The next day, Vernon had to leave early for work, yet Dudley slept very late. Soon after Vernon left, Petunia called Harry for a chat.
"I've had a look at these books," she said, pointing at the two books with Harry's name on them. "They are just junk stories. When asking at the book store, I found out that you are very famous among magical folks, being called 'The Boy Who Lived,' as nobody expected you to survive after your parents died."
She stopped suddenly and sighed heavily. "Well, Harry, I think I should first tell you what happened about seven years ago. There was a bad wizard who wanted to rule England. Your parents, along with some others, tried to stop him. It didn't help much. He seemed to gain power and support each day. Eventually, they were forced to hide, along with you. Nobody knows how this happened, but their hideout was found by the bad wizard and he came after them, killing them both. He also tried to kill you, yet somehow he ended killing himself, while you escaped with only a scar."
Harry's hand moved to his forehead. "Yes, Harry. That scar."
He felt his eyes getting wet. He failed to see his aunt's were even wetter. She wiped her tears furiously and continued. "Well, now you know more about that than I thought a boy your age should know. Anyhow, back to the books..."
Harry lifted his head and looked at her. His eyes still glistening with tears.
"The ones who publish those books should have known better. As they write imaginary stories about you, they should have got your consent, or your guardians' consent, before publishing those books. They should also pay royalties for using your name to make money. I've got the names and addresses of the publishers from the store. I intend to write to them and demand they pay their due and not publish this junk any longer. Any new stories should be approved by us and you should get your dues."
"Do we need that money?" he asked.
"Not really. We don't need it for this family, and if I understand correctly, you may not need it as well, yet if you agree to give to Vernon a small part of it, that may make him more agreeable to you living here and to spending money on your clothing and other necessities. Most of the money will still go to you, I'll make sure of that."
There was not much to think about. He had no use for the money and if it would make his life with his family less stressful, then it was well worth it. "I think that's fine. I trust you."
He didn't understand why she suddenly engulfed him in a tight hug, only releasing him as she heard Dudley's door open.
\/\/\/
By mid-August, the mother snake considered her daughter was ready to become Harry's familiar. Harry wasn't as sure. "$What will my aunt say if she finds a snake in the house? She wouldn't be content even to learn that there is a snake in the yard.$"
"$She won't see anything. Just let your familiar climb on you.$"
Harry put his hand on the ground. The most beautiful of the young snakes slithered up his arm and curled around it.
"$My aunt will surely see her like this,$" Harry commented.
"$If you allow your familiar to embed in your flesh, your aunt will see nothing.$"
"$Fine, let's see it.$"
The small snake seemed to merge into Harry's arm until all that remained was just a faint spiral etched on his skin. He didn't feel any different, physically, yet he could hear the small snake in his head. 'Oh, it's nice and cozy in here. I think I like being with you.'
Harry was still unsure. "$Must it be on my arm? It's too exposed. Maybe we can find a better-hidden position?$"
It sounded almost as if the mother snake was laughing. "$My daughter can stay wherever you tell her to stay. Would it be better if she climbed to your shoulders?$"
"$Much better!$"
"$Then tell her.$"
"$What's her name?$"
"$She has no name. Snakes identify each other by their smell. Only humans need names. You can name her, if you like.$"
Harry looked at the mother snake and her offspring. Their skin was shiny, like fine silk. 'Would you like the name Silky?'
'I love it!'
'Then Silky it is! Now, would you mind curling on my shoulders instead of my arm?'
Silky seemed to materialize out of his skin and she moved to his shoulders, sinking back into his flesh, her head close to his neck. 'That's much better!'
Nobody noticed the additional member of the family, and Silky was quite content to eat some remains, when he cleaned after dinner. She also liked visiting her siblings when he was working in the garden but was always sure to climb back to her place before he moved anywhere else.
\/\/\/
During August, some unusual mail started arriving. Owls were coming with the mail, soon after Vernon left for work, carrying heavy envelopes. Petunia showed Harry the first few. They were basically the same, each including a sales report along with a certificate stating the sums transferred to Potter vault, as well as another, stating the transfer of a smaller sum to a non-magical bank account. "This account is yours," Petunia told him. "I'm managing it on your behalf right now until you reach legal adulthood. I intend to also transfer a small portion of that to Vernon's account. This should mellow him a bit, showing him that it's worth keeping you and treating you well. Don't expect too much, though. I've already pushed him almost to the limit. I'm not sure how much further he can change."
"That's alright, Aunt Petunia. I know it costs you some money to keep me, especially now, that you also buy me clothes and things. I don't mind helping with that."
His aunt smiled just a bit. "Harry, Vernon earns enough to raise a few more children, if only I could give him more. It's not about the money. It's about his attitude."
The conversation made Petunia think. She couldn't do much about Vernon, but was her son as lost a case or not?
\/\/\/
The new school year started soon after. Harry was glad to be able to learn everything. Looking more presentable than before, he was also more acceptable to other children, especially since Dudley stopped harassing everybody who might show interest in his cousin. Harry assumed this was due to Dudley's failure to beat him or anybody else for several months. Unknown to him, this was also the result of some conversations his aunt had with Dudley, telling him very clearly that harassing Harry was no longer acceptable.
This didn't mean Harry became very popular overnight. Only a few showed any real interest in him and even fewer became his friends. Being considered a bookworm didn't help either, yet Harry managed to get three boys and two girls to become his friends and was very happy with that.
A month later, Dudley knocked on Harry's door one afternoon. He was quite reluctant, but he finally talked. "I've encountered some problems doing the Math homework for tomorrow. Mom said you've already done it. Can you help me?"
It was extremely awkward for both boys. Harry tried to understand what the problem was. It didn't take long to find that Dudley had learned almost nothing since starting school. He could not teach his cousin everything in one afternoon, yet he tried to direct him into thinking in the right terms and understanding what was required.
Dudley proved to be smarter than expected, although Harry had to work hard as well. By dinner time, Dudley had finished that homework. He didn't yet understand everything. Harry needed a few more afternoons to bring his cousin to the required level.
"I don't know why I didn't understand this in class," Dudley told him. "When you explain it, it's quite simple."
"I suppose you didn't care much about studying. I still don't know what made you change your mind."
Dudley looked down. Harry thought his cousin would either try to beat him or run to his room and slam the door shut. Dudley did neither. "Mom had a talk with me," he finally said. "She told me that if I didn't get better grades, Smelting wouldn't accept me, and then Dad will be very upset with me. You know he hopes I'll join Grunning and eventually replace him, when he'll be old."
"Well, I don't know about Grunning, but the more one knows, the more options one has, so I've noticed."
Dudley seemed uncomfortable, yet he asked Harry, "Do you mind if we do our homework together from now on? We can do it in my room, where the desk is wider, if you agree."
Harry kept wondering about his cousin long after they were both sent to bed. Was Dudley growing up, or was it the influence of Aunt Petunia? Could it be both?
'Do you even mind?' he heard Silky in his mind. 'Give it a chance, and he may become the cousin he should have been from the start.'
It took Dudley several more weeks to get the courage to ask, "How did you become so fit? All I've seen was that you read a lot. I'm sure that didn't make you fitter."
Harry smiled. Now, that Dudley was using his mind more often than his muscles, he was becoming a much nicer boy. Harry could still not feel close to him, but he no longer felt so distant either. "I'm exercising daily. I run for half an hour and also do some push-ups and sit-ups." He wasn't sure it was a good idea, but it was kind of expected, so he added, "Do you want to join me?"
"When do you exercise? I've never seen you do it."
"I wake up an hour before breakfast. I exercise and then shower and am ready to make breakfast on time."
Dudley looked stunned and then shook his head sadly. "I can't do it so early. I'm barely able to wake up on time to get some breakfast before going to school."
Harry looked at Dudley pensively. He was sure Dudley would not be able to run like him. He wasn't sure Dudley was even up to the exercising he'd done the first few weeks. Dudley wasn't built light and skinny; he was wide and heavy, and not only due to excess fat. He doubted Dudley would benefit from the same kind of exercises that was perfect for him. Wouldn't some different exercise after dinner be more helpful for Dudley, and possibly beneficial for Harry as well?
"I'll check some books and ask our fitness instructor about it. Do you mind exercising about an hour after dinner?"
Dudley agreed. A few days later, they started the new exercise regime. It included only a bit of running and more ground exercises as well as some exercises with weighs. Vernon, who initially opposed any relations between his son and "that freak", had to admit that such exercising could do his son some good. He even converted a part of the cellar into a small gym, with a treadmill, a stationary bicycle, and a weightlifting station, as well as some smaller weighs for strengthening exercises. Despite his reluctance to let Harry use that equipment, Vernon knew that Harry was coaching Dudley. Besides, there had not been any "freakishness" near Harry for more than a year. Maybe he finally got rid of it. Vernon still had some hope.
There was another change which Harry noticed that winter. His aunt would take him and Dudley to the cinema about once a fortnight. Harry didn't like some films, those that were full of action, sometimes quite violent, although all were intended for children. Dudley, on the other hand, complained when the films were too bland for his taste, like some fairy tales or nature documentaries. Still, both children loved going to the cinema, despite their different tastes.
Harry was surprised when his aunt asked him to join her at shopping for some Christmas presents. "You know best what Dudley would like, and I need you to help me buy some presents for him," she explained.
Harry wasn't so sure, but he did his best, advising her on some games and then suggesting some fitness gear.
Another surprise was at Christmas proper. Dudley got a multitude of presents, as expected. Harry didn't even go close to the Christmas tree, not expecting anything. It was Dudley who brought him two wrapped packages. One held a book, titled "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" which contained some stories about witches and wizards of old time. Harry noticed that it was overlaid with "Stories by the Grimm Brothers". It was clearly a magical book. The other contained a small music system, one he could enjoy in his room. There was also a gift certificate for a few music albums at the store in the nearest shopping centre.
"Make sure not to play it loud, boy!" his uncle warned him, yet Harry was still smiling, thanking his aunt and uncle for the wonderful Christmas present.