Petunia's softening and Vernon's compromise were, for Ashley, both surprising and yet somehow expected.
Witnessing the entire situation unfold firsthand, Ashley felt nothing but heartfelt emotion.
Petunia's awkward love for Lily had always been complicated. Even though she had harbored resentment over the injustices she had suffered, she had still sent a seemingly casual gift when Lily got married. But if it were truly "casual," how could the exact same vase appear on her own dining table?
Lily had always felt a natural closeness to Petunia. As she grew older, she had also gained a deeper understanding. She may have once felt hurt or frustrated by her sister's distance, yet she never let go of the bond between them.
Seeing the vase something a one-year-old Harry could hardly remember at home was only possible because Lily had intentionally placed it where Harry could see it often. Knowing this, the vase broke through the last wall around Petunia's heart, finally convincing her to adopt and protect Harry, Lily's only son.
Vernon was not fond of James, nor Harry by extension, and he found it hard to like them, especially considering the mysterious elements surrounding them. Yet he truly loved Petunia, the mother of his children, and in the end, he compromised, respecting her choice.
Vernon could manage material contributions for Harry, but emotional involvement was another matter. Both he and Petunia understood this tacitly.
Regardless, Harry successfully joined the Dursley household and began his new life.
At first, taking care of three toddlers at once was overwhelming. Petunia often questioned whether she had made the right decision. Bedwetting incidents, Dudley stealing Harry's food, both Harry and Ashley falling sick at the same time these exhausting situations made it almost impossible to remain calm and fair.
Thankfully, Harry was mostly obedient and quiet. Ashley, playing her part as the "pseudo-toddler," helped soothe Dudley, and they managed to survive this difficult period.
Once the children reached school age, Ashley would always take care of Harry, pacify Dudley, and do what she could around the house. Petunia found herself much more at ease, her temperament softening, and the harshness she was once known for gradually disappeared.
Even when she looked into Harry's eyes, though she sometimes froze, unable to express concern or affection naturally, she ensured he lacked nothing and treated him without harsh words. Their interactions were quiet and steady. Vernon, meanwhile, remained largely indifferent, often ignoring Harry entirely.
Harry had once been saddened by this detached treatment, as it was hard not to notice the difference. Ashley could only explain that parents naturally favor their own children, but overall, they were still kind to him. Harry shared this understanding with his classmates, and from then on, he relaxed considerably.
He would naturally wonder about his parents, whose memories of that terrifying night had already faded. He knew, vaguely, that they were gone, but details were unclear. Vernon and Petunia had agreed to attribute the loss to a car accident. Harry was too young to understand the magical world, and he would only learn the truth when the right time came. Ideally, perhaps, he would never know.
Whether it was love for Lily's son, the bond formed over time, or a cautious fear of magical forces and mysterious events, the Dursleys eventually embraced him.
"Dudley, why are you taking a baseball bat? Finished your homework?" Ashley asked.
"I already arranged to play baseball with Pierre. I'll do homework when I get back," Dudley replied.
"Dudley's lying. He actually agreed to a fight," Harry whispered.
"Harry, you little rascal! Do you want to get hurt?"
And thus began another round of chasing and scolding.
Perhaps because he had grown accustomed to this household, Harry was less cautious than in his early years. He could be mischievous like a boy his age. Or perhaps he was just naturally incompatible with Dudley. Frequent little clashes arose, but Ashley's mediation prevented any major conflict.
More importantly, Ashley was the only person in this house who showed Harry unreserved affection. In her presence, he could let himself be a little free-spirited.
"I don't even need Harry to tell me," Ashley said, softening her tone, her eyes filled with concern as she looked at Dudley. "Dudley, you're already four years old, not a three-year-old anymore. Can you tell me why you were going to fight this time?"
Dudley hesitated, his guilt apparent.
Ashley studied him, noticing how tall and strong he had become, much bigger than her. She sighed deeply. Earlier, her concern had been a ruse to draw out Dudley's answer, a tactic he could never resist. But now, she genuinely worried that he might grow into the person she feared. Perhaps her plan should start early.
"Dudley, how about letting Dad teach you boxing?" she suggested.
"In my heart, Dudley has always been my little hero," she continued, "but everyone keeps saying he's a bad kid who likes to fight…"
"I don't want them to say bad things about Dudley. I want everyone to know Dudley is a hero, not a bad kid…" Ashley's eyes were red, tears threatening to spill. Her voice was both hurt and stubborn.
Dudley had always feared making Ashley cry, not just because of Vernon's scolding, but because his sister had always been kind to him. She shared her food, her toys, and comforted him when he cried. He could never bear to make her sad.
Sometimes, he wished she wouldn't worry so much about him. But now, hearing that Ashley saw him as her hero, Dudley forgot all past scoldings. Shyly, he asked, "Really? I'm really a hero? All I need is to learn boxing?"
Ashley secretly smiled, dabbing at the tears that hadn't fallen, and nodded firmly. "Yes! You're so capable, Dudley. Once you learn boxing, you'll defeat your opponents and everyone will admire you!"
Dudley's eyes lit up. The idea of fighting and being admired was thrilling he was born for boxing!
"Okay! I want to learn boxing!" he shouted, nodding decisively.
Ashley breathed a sigh of relief. Her plan was working. Now it was a matter of time, subtly shaping Dudley to control his temper and maintain boundaries, rather than becoming violent.
Glancing over, she noticed Harry watching with envy, his mood low.
Ashley sighed. Having just finished her role as "concerned sister," she now had to become the "attentive big sister." She patted Harry's head, thinking carefully. "Finish your homework, then let's play football. But Harry, you have to go easy on me."
Harry instantly perked up, full of energy. "Okay! I'll go easy on you, Ashley!"