Harry Potter: From Muggle Cousin to Conceptual Archmage

"I... I..."

Tears welled up in Aunt Petunia's eyes. Words were on the tip of her tongue, yet she didn't know what to say.

Prompted by Dudley, for the first time, she clearly confronted her complicated inner feelings.

She still envied her sister. She envied that her sister had magical talents and also that her sister had received their parents' favoritism.

But she had to admit that this wasn't her sister's fault.

Lily loved her very much and regarded her as an important family member.

And she, it seemed, also cared about Lily and Lily's son.

"Uncle Vernon, I'm sorry."

Aunt Petunia Dursley took the handkerchief that Dudley timely handed over and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. Then, randomly, she turned to her husband and said something.

Uncle Vernon hugged Aunt Petunia Dursley into his arms. Usually extremely clumsy when dealing with certain things, at this moment, he instantly understood what his wife meant.

"I understand. It's okay, my sweetie. I'll do as you say. I'll listen to you."

Uncle Vernon held Aunt Petunia Dursley in his arms. His chubby hand gently patted Aunt Petunia Dursley's shoulder as he murmured affectionately, and his eyes were also moist.

"Alright! You win, my son." After a while, Uncle Vernon said to Dudley and Harry somewhat helplessly. "Go on! Let Harry go to that lousy magic school and learn how to wave a lousy stick!"

Dudley suddenly felt a bit guilty, but he understood that this was just the growing pain on the way to a harmonious and loving family life.

And Harry, standing beside them, looked even more at a loss. Clearly, he had been allowed to go to Hogwarts to learn magic, but he just couldn't be happy.

They had never seen the Dursleys in this state before.

[Ding——]

[Due to the host's intervention, the D-rank regret event - The Unspeakable and Entangled Affection, has been unlocked ahead of schedule.]

[The Unspeakable and Entangled Affection (D-rank): For a long time, Aunt Petunia Dursley has failed to face up to her family affection for Harry. She took the risk of adopting Harry, but during the process of raising him, she was cold and sarcastic, only providing the bare minimum of material support.

In the original storyline, it wasn't until Harry's seventh year at Hogwarts, when the Order of the Phoenix members transferred her to prevent persecution by Voldemort and the Death Eaters, that Aunt Petunia Dursley truly wanted to accept Harry and wish him good luck. However, in the end, she still didn't say it out loud.

After Aunt Petunia Dursley passed away, in the original storyline, Dudley, according to his mother's last words, returned the blanket that had been carefully preserved for many years and had once wrapped baby Harry when he came to 4 Privet Drive to Harry. However, he still didn't have any extra words for Harry.]

In the momentary silence, Dudley received a system prompt.

He was a bit surprised. Originally, he just wanted to convince his parents into accepting Harry and magic. He didn't expect to trigger a regret event ahead of schedule.

Although it was only the lowest-level D-rank regret event, it was still a pleasant surprise.

From the clear information of the regret event, it wasn't difficult to see that the key point to completing this regret was to get Aunt Petunia Dursley to express her love for Harry personally.

Judging from the current situation, Aunt Petunia Dursley has been deeply touched. Completing this regret only needs an opportunity.

Dudley already had an idea in mind. Looking at his parents who were emotionally affected and crying in each other's arms, he decided to hold off on this idea for now.

Now, he had to carry on with the original plan.

The Dursleys had already given Harry permission to go to Hogwarts. But as for Dudley's desire to go there, no groundwork had been laid yet!

It's better to get it over with quickly. Taking advantage of his parents' emotional upheaval, he might as well settle everything once and for all!

"Harry!" Dudley said, "Go find envelopes, writing paper, and a pen. Write a reply to Hogwarts and bring it to me. I'll tell you what to put down!"

Harry snapped out of it and quickly followed his cousin's instructions, running upstairs to his bedroom to look for the items.

While Harry was away, Dudley said to the Dursleys with a somewhat apologetic expression:

"Mom and Dad, what I said just now might have been a bit harsh and made you feel bad. I'm sorry. But please believe that I'm truly thinking about our family.

Our family just can't resist the power of wizards and magic.

Before, Dad, we could've moved away, but we didn't know that we've been under special surveillance all along. There's no way to escape.

That's also why Dumbledore didn't mention things like 'Obscurial' and other matters related to wizard training in the letters. They can keep an eye on our family's movements and Harry's growth.

If there's any irreversible accident about to occur, they can step in at any time."

"What?!" Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon were startled again.

Just then, Harry also came downstairs with writing utensils such as writing paper.

Dudley didn't intend to hide anything and continued to explain, "Take Mrs. Figg, that nice neighbor, for example. She lives two streets away from our house, but still comes to deliberately befriend us.

Moreover, it's not just that she likes them. Those are all pairs of spying eyes."

Dudley's words made the Dursleys and Harry involuntarily look out of the window in surprise.

"It's Tibbles and Mr. Paws!"

Harry noticed keenly two pets licking their fur at the intersection outside and stealing glances into the Dursleys' house. They were both Mrs. Figg's beloved pets.

"How dare they..." Aunt Petunia got her feisty side back in anger.

"Of course they do!" Dudley said in a very affirmative tone, "Without power, you'll be at the mercy of others. Whether it's out of kindness or ill will, we can't refuse."

Harry came downstairs, sat back in his original seat, put down the pen and paper, and then seemed to remember something. "Cousin, could those weird people who used to salute me outside also be..."

"That's right!" Dudley gave Harry an approving look. "Those are all wizards, most probably Dumbledore's subordinates. They were staying nearby to protect you silently and monitor us by the way.

That Mr. Diggory who brought me the wizard books really spoke highly of Dumbledore during our conversation!"

Silence. The family fell into silence again.

Fear and revulsion appeared on Uncle Vernon's face but were quickly suppressed by him.

Aunt Petunia's eyes went blank, looking lost.

Harry had a feeling he couldn't quite put his finger on. It didn't seem like a good feeling.

"Don't think too much! A weakling's thoughts are just inviting trouble!"

Dudley roused everyone and then said to Harry, "Harry, write a letter!

Tell Dumbledore to send someone familiar with the wizarding world on July 31st, your birthday, to guide you to buy those items needed for learning magic as stated in the letter.

Emphasize that I'll accompany you throughout the process."

"Sure! Cousin!" Harry started writing the letter quickly.

"Duddy, this is really dangerous. You don't need to go with him!" Aunt Petunia instinctively worried about her own child.

"No, I must go! Not only will I accompany Harry to buy things in the wizarding world, but I will also strive to go to Hogwarts to learn magic with Harry!"

Dudley's tone was terrifyingly firm and beyond doubt.

Aunt Petunia immediately recalled the time when she wrote to Dumbledore, wanting to learn magic just as Lily did.

"Dudley, they won't take you! Hogwarts only accepts odd... kids like Harry."

"Mom, where there's a will, there's a way!"