"Hmph, that kid got off easy," Uncle Vernon grumbled.
Perhaps due to better meals recently or a growth spurt, Harry was growing quickly. The cupboard under the stairs likely wouldn't fit him much longer. Vernon and Petunia had considered moving him upstairs, but that room was Dudley's toy storage, and they feared he'd object.
Now that Dudley had suggested it himself, they had no objections. They didn't think too deeply about it.
Dudley said nothing, picking up a sandwich from the table and eating. His Lawyer and Arbitrator abilities let him notice details and loopholes others missed, subtly achieving his goals through authority. Giving Harry a new bedroom was a natural step.
"Boy, hurry up and bring the mail over," Vernon yelled, noticing Harry's delay.
"What are you doing? Checking for bombs in the mail?" He chuckled at his own joke.
Dudley offered a polite smile and continued eating his sandwich. Truthfully, British food was unappetizing. He missed the flavors of that other world, which were far tastier than this sandwich.
Harry returned slowly, holding four envelopes. He handed the bills and postcards to Vernon, placed a thick parchment envelope before Dudley, and sat with another identical envelope.
"Hmm? A letter for me?" Dudley was puzzled. Who would write to him?
He glanced at the envelope—exquisite thick parchment with the address in emerald green ink, oddly without a stamp:
Surrey
Little Whinging
Privet Drive, Number 4
Second Floor Bedroom
Mr. Dudley Dursley
Dudley noticed Harry's letter was nearly identical. "Could it be from the school?" he thought. Simultaneous letters suggested their new secondary school, as they'd just graduated and were awaiting admission.
Dudley wasn't in a hurry to open it, intending to finish his sandwich first.
Vernon tore open a bill, snorted in disgust, then flipped to a postcard. "Marge is sick, ate some bad whelks…" he said, waving it to show Petunia.
Turning, he spotted Harry's letter and snatched it. "That's my letter!" Harry shouted, trying to grab it back. He'd never received a letter before and was thrilled, but Vernon took it before he could open it.
"Hmph, who'd write to you? Behave, boy, or you'll stay in the cupboard," Vernon snorted, casually tearing open the letter.
Dudley frowned but didn't think much of it. Vernon would likely return it after reading.
But then, Vernon's face changed dramatically, noticeable even without Dudley's extraordinary abilities. Seconds later, he yelled, "Pe—Petunia!"
Petunia rushed over, glanced at the letter, and nearly fainted. "Dursley! Oh, my goodness, what are we going to do—"
They locked eyes, seemingly forgetting others in the kitchen.
"What's going on?" Harry sensed the letter wasn't ordinary, definitely not from secondary school. Who could it be from?
"That's my letter! Give it back!" Harry, desperate to see its contents, jumped to snatch it but was too short.
"Both of you, get out!" Vernon roared, his face grim, ignoring everything else as he yelled at Dudley and Harry.
"Give me back my letter!" Harry pleaded.
"Go!" Dudley, without another word, pulled Harry out of the kitchen.
Bang! The kitchen door slammed shut, leaving them in the hallway.
"What are you doing? That's my letter!" Harry said excitedly.
"Don't worry, I have a similar one. Let's read it first," Dudley said, shaking his parchment letter.
"Oh, right!" Harry remembered Dudley's identical letter. He'd thought it was from secondary school, but Vernon and Petunia's reactions suggested otherwise.
"Come here." Harry pulled Dudley into the cramped cupboard under the stairs to prevent Vernon or Petunia from snatching this letter too.
Squeezed in the tight space, both breathed heavily. "Hurry up and open it," Harry urged.
Dudley flipped the envelope, noticing a wax seal: a shield crest with a capital "H" surrounded by a lion, eagle, badger, and snake. "What a peculiar crest," he said, tearing open the seal and pulling out the letter. They read eagerly:
*Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (President of the International Confederation of Wizards, First Class Grand Sorcerer of Merlin, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot)
Dear Mr. Dursley,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Enclosed is a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by July 31.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress*
Harry was stunned. Dudley, too, showed shock.
This world had wizards and a dedicated wizarding school. Miraculously, Dudley had received an admission letter from a magic school. Harry's identical letter meant he'd been accepted too.
Dudley glanced at Harry, still dazed, and suddenly, things that puzzled him before clicked. This wasn't an ordinary world.
This was a world of magic!
...
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