Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon were in a quandary.
On one hand, they harbored an aversion and fear of wizards and magic. On the other hand, there was Dudley's intense longing.
They were well aware of their son's stubborn and determined nature. For a long time, they had indulged their son's character without limit, spoiling him rotten, almost to the point of being blindly obedient and trusting.
Except for certain matters related to Harry, wizards, and magic, the Dursleys had never refused any of Dudley's requests.
This time...
"Alright! Dudley, but I'll come along with you!"
Uncle Vernon made up his mind and said with great solemnity. For the sake of his son's wish and safety, he actually contemplated setting foot in the wizarding world.
You know, he truly loathed wizards and magic deep in his heart.
For love's sake, he broke his own code of conduct once more.
"Uncle Vernon, you..." Aunt Petunia was utterly shocked, but quickly grasped the reason behind her husband's actions and was even more touched.
Having parents who were so considerate, Dudley was also deeply moved.
But precisely because of this sentiment, he was even more determined not to let Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia meddle in this shopping trip to Diagon Alley.
After all, his motives for participating in this journey were far from simple.
For this, he had been devising plans for many years and made well-targeted preparations. As long as this journey didn't deviate too much from the original storyline, he stood a high chance of achieving a leap into the transcendent rank in one fell swoop!
"Dad, Mom, neither of you go!"
Dudley flatly refused his father's kindness. "Anyway, no matter what, the wizards on Dumbledore's side are still on Harry's side. The people he sent will guarantee the safety of Harry and me.
Besides, if we really run into any danger, it won't be of any help if you get involved. In fact, you might even turn into..."
Dudley hesitated to say the words, but thinking about another regret of his mother, Aunt Petunia, and the future of the Dursley family, he steeled his heart and forced himself to continue:
"You might even become a liability!"
Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia stared wide-eyed and gaped. Dudley's words left their minds reeling.
They could actually become a burden to their child!
An intense wave of sadness welled up in their hearts. Considering Dudley's earlier remarks, they could fathom what he was trying to convey.
Ordinary people had little ability to resist against magical wizards. They wouldn't be able to offer any assistance if they went to the wizarding world.
But... the truth always stung, moreover when it came from the mouth of their beloved son.
They felt utterly useless!
Amidst their grief, the Dursleys, who doted on Dudley, sank into a state of mental self-depletion.
Dudley read their minds from their expressions and knew that his words had had an impact. Immediately, he struck while the iron was hot to lay the groundwork for what he intended to do next:
"Dad, Mom, it's a brutal fact that the strong dominate the weak!
A wizard's magic can tamper with our memories, muddle our perception, stiffen our bodies, and even manipulate our minds and take our lives!"
Harry's enemy is the most fearsome and evil Dark Wizard among all wizards. Although the white wizards are in power now, the Dark Wizards have not been completely wiped out. They might stage a comeback at any moment.
By then, our family will surely be targeted and held accountable.
So, instead of forcing yourselves to go shopping in the wizarding world with Harry and me, it's better to completely conquer your resistance to wizards and magic, understand this miraculous power, and prepare to master this power in the future!
The right path is to transform from weak to strong and acquire the power to protect yourself!"
Dudley's heartfelt and sincere words made the Dursleys feel their son's love for them.
Their son didn't dislike them but wanted to inspire them.
However, such inspiration instead plunged the Dursleys into confusion.
Uncle Vernon doesn't know much about wizards, but Aunt Petunia has a smattering of knowledge about wizards and magic.
As far as she knew, Muggles can't become wizards! she thought to herself.
Dudley noticed the confusion and doubts in his parents' eyes and prompted in an even more straightforward manner:
"Trust your son. Just because others can't turn ordinary people into wizards doesn't mean I, Dudley, can't either!"
Dudley's confident words gradually dispelled the confusion in the Dursleys' eyes.
If someone else were to say this, they would think it was just empty boasting.
But when these words came from their son's mouth, it was different. The credibility shot right up to the max!
Dudley finally succeeded in convincing his parents. At this time, Harry had also finished writing his reply letter.
Dudley took the letter and paid special attention to checking the agreed-upon time and the part regarding his role as an accompanying person. After confirming there were no mistakes or omissions, he stuffed the letter paper into the envelope.
Then, he fed two strips of beef jerky to the poor owl messenger and lured it out of the cage.
Opening the window of the first-floor living room, Dudley released the owl messenger that had taken on the task of sending the reply letter.
"Good bird, send the letter to Dumbledore!"
Looking at the owl messenger flying away with the letter outside the window, and then at the two pet cats quietly leaving at the nearby intersection, Dudley had an indeterminate expression on his face.
"All is ready, and all we need now is but an east wind!" (a Chinese idiom meaning everything is prepared, and only the crucial factor is lacking)
Saying goodbye to the still worried Dursleys, Dudley and Harry went up to the second floor and were about to return to their respective bedrooms to rest.
After going up to the second floor, before entering the bedroom, Harry's expression clearly betrayed that he had something on his mind.
Dudley suddenly stopped and looked at Harry.
Harry got the message. Knowing that his cousin had seen through his thoughts, he just came right out and asked, "Cousin, does my existence cause trouble to you, Aunt Petunia, and Uncle Vernon? If so, I..."
"What do you want to do? Run away from home or something?"
Dudley cut Harry off right then and there, putting an end to his wild thoughts and said seriously, "Harry, you're not a trouble. Without you and Aunt Lily, we would be poor Muggles who were kept in the dark and at the mercy of the wizards.
We might get caught up in the fight between the white and Dark Wizards any day now, die without a sound, or have our memories erased by the wizards of the Ministry of Magic and continue to muddle through life.
Because of you and Aunt Lily, we have gained the right to information about the wizarding world, and there are white wizards guarding nearby. This is a good thing!"
After hearing Dudley's explanation, Harry's complexion looked much better. "So, cousin, what's all this about me becoming an Obscurial?"
Dudley chuckled and replied in a low voice, "Don't worry, Harry. You won't become an Obscurial. That was just some lines I used to make my parents face up to their true feelings!
To become an Obscurial, being constantly denied and mocked isn't the key. The crucial thing is whether a wizard is influenced by the outside world and starts to deny and suppress their own magic.
Harry, your life has been tough, but your personality is fairly cheerful and you have your own powers of discrimination. Even without my guidance, you wouldn't self-deny and become an Obscurial!
I'm dead certain of this!"
After listening to Dudley's explanation, most of Harry's knots in his heart were dispelled. He hesitated, looking a bit sheepish as he brought up the last topic. "Cousin, I think I might have misjudged Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon in the past..."
"It's not your fault, Harry!" Dudley said, patting Harry's hair comfortingly. "Considering how they treated you in the past, it would be seriously strange if you thought they loved you!"
Everyone has their limitations. Their attitude towards you is determined by the emotional grudges of the people of their generation and their personalities. You don't need to blame yourself.
Harry, enjoy the rest of your childhood! Once you pass your eleventh birthday, you won't be a child anymore! After that, I'll be even stricter with you, so be prepared!"
Dudley's words dispelled the confusion in Harry's heart and brought him a reasonable amount of pressure.
Harry nodded with determination. Under Dudley's watchful eyes, he returned to his bedroom.
Dudley paused for a moment and then stepped into the large bedroom just next door, separated only by a wall.
This room was his base camp.