Vernon's personal ward was unexpectedly put to the test that winter. It happened a few days before Christmas, when he was shopping for a nice jewel to buy for Petunia as a gift. He went to a jewellery shop for that, of course. It had an electric lock to prevent unwelcome people from entering, as was becoming a norm in many such shops, but the multitude of shoppers as the Holiday approached made it much less efficient.
Vernon was looking at some sets of earrings when one of the shoppers finished his business there and opened the door to go out. As soon as the door opened just slightly, somebody pushed it fully open and rushed in, pushing the shopper in and waving a handgun.
Under threat of the gun, the robber made all people in the shop move to the back room and intended to lock them there, but he couldn't see Vernon, whose personal ward made him invisible.
Vernon had never been a very brave man. He stood quietly at the spot he'd previously been, watching everything with dread. He then realised that the robber couldn't see him. That made him quite a bit braver. As a law-abiding citizen, he first closed all the jewellery drawers that were still open. They all locked automatically, preventing unauthorised opening. The robber was still busy pushing the others into the back room and failed to notice.
Vernon then pushed the red alarm button, wondering why none of the employees had done that the second they noticed the robber. He then intended to quickly walk to the door. He wasn't quick enough. The robber had heard the alarm and turned around. He couldn't see Vernon, but he heard the footsteps. Vernon normally wore old-style shoes with tough leather soles that were much noisier than modern rubber soles.
The robber, now stressed by the alarm and the steps that sounded like they were coming from behind the door, shot two bullets in that direction. The first went way above Vernon, hitting the wall above the door. The second went lower.
Vernon felt sure that he was a goner. He couldn't even move, yet that proved unnecessary. He heard the gunshot and a "ping", as if it met a metal shield, and then the bullet fell on the floor. Vernon fell too, mostly due to panic and fear.
It felt like an eternity, but it only took seconds before a well-armed and armoured police person stepped through the door. Seeing Vernon prone on the floor, they first checked on him and helped him stand up again, sending him out, "and please wait near the adjacent shop. We need to interrogate you once this is over."
Vernon heard two gunshots, but none impacted him or the police. He left the shop as quickly as he could.
It took a few more minutes before it was all over. Vernon later found out that the hostages took advantage of the robber's paying attention elsewhere and the cramped situation in the small room. One of them moved into position to grab the gun out of the robber's hand while another would grab his arm at the same moment. A third, noticing their action, pulled the robber's feet, causing him to fall on his face, as soon as he was disarmed.
It took another hour before Vernon could resume his shopping. He got a hefty discount for his part in the event.
That evening, the failed robbery was also an item on the television news. Vernon's planned surprise was slightly spoiled by it, but the admiring looks he got from his wife were a very nice compensation for that.
The children were also elated. The personal wards proved to work perfectly. Harry also recharged the ward stone… er… pebble. He wanted to ensure it would work as well in any event it was needed again.
–..–
Hermione was contemplating a problem. As usual, she used Harry as her sounding board. "I know my parents wanted more children. They also have a lot of sex, as far as I can see. When I was little, I used to go to their room whenever I had a bad dream or I just felt lonely in bed, interrupting their activity most of the time. I no longer do that, of course, and I understand what it was that I saw at those times, but I noticed other things that make me sure they're still just as active. Yet I have no siblings, as you know."
Harry felt uncomfortable talking about such things, especially since Hermione had told him what it meant. He'd also learned some more about the subject. "Don't they use contraceptives?"
Both blushed at the question, but Hermione answered it. "I asked Mum. She said they used some when I was very small. They stopped when I reached three, but she didn't get pregnant since."
Harry frowned. "Then, there must be something that prevents it. Can't you check?"
Hermione smiled. "I learned some more diagnostic spells concerning health since we helped Dudley with that virus. I cast on Mum but found nothing amiss. I suspect it's something that changed slightly when I was born, but I could find nothing. I also checked Dad. He's healthy and well, and Mum told me he was checked and found more than good enough to impregnate her." Her cheeks turned slightly rosy at the thought.
Harry mulled it over. "Then, it must be something quite minor if neither the doctors nor the charms can find anything, yet it stands in the way. Maybe…" He turned even more pensive for a bit.
"What are you considering now?" Hermione sounded impatient.
"You could ask your magic to heal any minor problem your mother has in that area, or everywhere, for that matter. You don't need to be too specific. Your magic will do the rest, I believe."
Hermione frowned and then sighed. "You know I like more exact actions and ideas, but… I suppose this could work. There's nothing to lose, so it seems."
–..–
Harry didn't think of that subject after that conversation. Oh, he had considered trying something similar for Aunt Petunia, but he wasn't so sure he could help or if such help would be welcome. He'd overheard a conversation when Petunia said that she had been warned against getting pregnant again, as it could kill her. Dudley's birth seemed to have damaged something inside her, making another pregnancy dangerous.
Not knowing any more and feeling sure he'd not understand even if given the details, Harry didn't dare try to repair anything.
–..–
Vernon's relations with Marge, his sister, had taken a nosedive since the incident that showed Dudley's magic. Petunia and the children didn't mind it, but Vernon felt bad for not keeping closer to his sister. He kept meeting her on his own a few times each year. Gradually, he made her see the talent of both boys as a blessing and not 'freakishness', as he had thought of earlier in life. The fact that it saved his life during that robbery attempt played a major role in persuading her.
"Aunt Marge will come to join us for Easter," Petunia told the children after a tense phone conversation.
Both boys grimaced.
Petunia tried to reassure them. "She'll come alone, bringing no dog with her. She also said she needed to apologise to Harry for the way she used to treat him. You should give her a chance."
The sceptical expressions on her boys' faces were not quite encouraging, but both nodded. She was sure they would behave as expected, as long as Marge behaved. She felt very unsure about that.
–..–
Harry was surprised to see a much slimmer Marge when she arrived. She wasn't slim by any definition, of course, but was no longer obese, as she had been the last time he'd seen her.
Marge turned to Harry as soon as Petunia and Vernon finished their welcome. "I need to apologise to you, boy. I believe I should also address you as Harry, or even Mr Potter. Which do you prefer?"
Harry felt unsure about his feelings, yet the answer was evident. "They call me Mr Potter only at school. Harry should be alright for most purposes."
Marge smiled hesitantly. Both boys were approaching ten and looked even older than that, mainly due to a recent growth spurt. Dudley was almost as tall as her, and Harry lagged only by a finger's width.
This was evidently difficult for her, but Marge continued talking. "Unlike my brother, who had many chances to learn about Magic even before you joined his family, I was totally oblivious to it. I may have seen some odd things that I couldn't explain and considered them freakish. From the little Vernon told me about your parents, it looked to me like they didn't fit any of the positions I knew of. They didn't even have jobs. That's why I thought badly of them."
Marge took a deep breath before continuing. "That still doesn't justify the way I treated you. It took many hours of talking with Vernon and a few sessions of therapy before I managed to think straight and see my deeds as they really were. I was a thoughtless bully, attacking a seemingly easy victim. I had no excuse for acting that way, and I feel ashamed of ever doing that. I hope you can forgive me and allow me to become an aunt for you, too. I'm not sure I can ever forgive myself, but I heard you're a better person and much more forgiving. I apologise for my previous behaviour and will do my best not to revert to it. Please forgive me…"
Harry still used a quick Legilimency scan, realising that Marge was very serious about her apology and her desire for forgiveness. He smiled at the woman. "I know that everybody makes mistakes at times. As long as we can learn from them and try to do better, forgiveness is not an issue. I forgive you and hope we shall become a closer family in time."
He could see her relief as Marge furtively wiped a tear before asking, "May I hug you now?"
Harry nodded and stepped forward, allowing her arms to engulf him. Marge made sure not to hold him too tightly and not for long either, but Harry felt like she was becoming a true member of his family with that hug.
Marge also apologised to Dudley for her behaviour at that time, while Dudley apologised for sticking her and her dog to the wall. "I didn't know what I was doing at the time. I learned to control myself since then."
The hug he got was much tighter, but Harry was glad to be spared such a hug. Marge was still a very powerful woman, and he was still a scrawny boy. Such a hug could be quite painful for him.
Aunt Marge only stayed overnight, returning to her home the next morning.
–..–
Both boys got very good grades at school. Harry was the top student in most subjects. Dudley was also one of the top students, lagging only slightly after Harry. Petunia was proud of them both. Vernon tried not to show it, but he was also proud of both. He would have liked it even better if Dudley surpassed Harry, but he knew that had no chance of happening. After all, Vernon was the most educated of his family for several generations, and Petunia was barely accepted into college. Marrying Vernon was only a convenient excuse to drop her studies, or she could have barely passed. The Potters, on the other hand, were both very accomplished students at Hogwarts and were also considered very intelligent. It was no wonder that Harry was proving just as good at school.
Vernon was occasionally wondering about Hermione. Since befriending both boys, Dudley's performance at school got a significant boost. He was sure it had nothing to do with Magic, but couldn't find the cause. The girl was clearly Harry's friend. Dudley was accepted as Harry's cousin, but he doubted she would have even noticed him otherwise. Still, weren't they too young to pair already? He felt quite sure that these two would stay a couple for life. He wondered with whom Dudley would become a couple.
–..–
Aunt Marge visited again for Dudley's tenth birthday, arriving much earlier and not staying overnight.
Harry was slightly surprised when she arrived for his tenth birthday too, bringing about the same number of presents. Luckily, she made it a short visit this time too. Harry thought that meeting Dumbledore, at least, could have been quite problematic. Evidently, Marge had a similar idea and left as soon as most of the children's classmates left.
–..–
The Granger couple couldn't join the Dursleys for the summer vacation. Jean was pregnant and felt too heavy to take a flight. She was also a bit old for a pregnancy and wanted to refrain from anything that could endanger it.
Hermione was not bothered by that. She could still join Harry wherever he was. It was something they found out unplanned.
–..–
Harry was in the local library, looking through zoology books and trying to find any interesting animal to try and change into when Hermione appeared at his side. Luckily, nobody noticed her.
"Hermione! You shouldn't come here this way!" Harry admonished her.
"I thought you were at home," she said apologetically.
"Then how did you end up here?"
She needed to think a bit. Harry could almost see her thought process by her expressions. Her face finally brightened as she seemed to find the cause. "You see, lately, I don't think of your room when I'm fading to you, I only think of you, of fading next to you. That's probably why I arrived here and not at your room."
Harry considered it and smiled. "That's good. With our special mind-talk and now this, we can help each other whenever one needs help, no matter where we are."
Hermione smiled. "Sure, and not only for help. Even just to not feel lonely, at times."
Harry smiled back. "You shouldn't ever feel lonely. You have me, you know."
She nodded. "Sure, and you have me. We're together and staying together!"
Harry only smiled.
–..–
With this new ability, Hermione joined Harry at the hotel each morning and returned home each night. Both adult couples could only shake their heads in admiration. It looked like the children were really enjoying their magic.
Petunia knew that despite enjoying a few such magical travels, she would never be fully comfortable with it. Vernon was not even willing to try. The Grangers, despite being more open-minded about magic, were also not fully comfortable with it. She'd learned to curb her envy, but at such times… At least the children were happy, and that was the most important consideration.