By May of 1991, after Ashley and Dudley's birthdays had passed, time seemed to speed up on its own.
Thanks to Ashley's earlier warning, Harry had kept his emotions in check ever since, and there hadn't been another surge of magic.
With graduation approaching, their days were filled with exams, social gatherings, and endless small tasks that kept all three busy.
Harry had almost forgotten about that strange day at the reptile house. The memory of possessing mysterious power now felt like nothing more than a dream.
One weekend in June, Vernon was out early, mowing the front and back lawns and trimming the hedges. He had been kept awake the night before by mosquitoes, which he blamed on the overgrown greenery outside. Complaining under the morning sun, he worked up a sweat, grumbling all the while.
Inside, Petunia and Ashley were quietly flipping through stacks of school prospectuses, exchanging their thoughts in hushed voices.
Dudley, on the other hand, was still lounging in bed. He had a match scheduled for the afternoon, but sleep came first. Dudley faced life with fearless confidence.
When it came to his future schooling, Dudley had earned many accolades in boxing competitions over the years, and several secondary schools had shown interest. Among them was Smelting Academy, Vernon's alma mater, which Vernon immediately decided Dudley should attend.
With his future secured, Dudley had nothing to do but enjoy the remaining days of his graduation season.
Harry's situation was different. Sitting across from Petunia and Ashley, he was anxious and conflicted.
If Ashley chose a prestigious school like Chet House, there was no way Harry could gain admission with his grades. That meant he couldn't attend the same school as her.
But he couldn't bring himself to ask Ashley to give up a top school. That would have been too selfish.
Ashley didn't notice Harry's worry. In her mind, Harry had been recorded in the Hogwarts admission book since birth. It was destiny that he would attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There was nothing to worry about.
She, however, did worry about her own school choice. Without extraordinary talent, she would have to select from the many ordinary schools, and the sheer number of options was overwhelming.
Growing up in China, striving to maintain top grades in a foreign country had been far from easy. Only the thick English dictionaries she had worn out truly understood the effort behind it.
Luckily, Chinese students were trained to focus on the essentials, and exams were familiar territory. Her results were now solid.
As for her future, perhaps it was that early success at age five, or Vernon's frequent reminders over the years, that sparked her interest in furniture and interior design.
Not the shallow kind of "copying pictures," but true design creating practical yet delightful pieces that would surprise and inspire anyone who saw them, making them want to bring the design into their own homes.
The sense of accomplishment she had felt from a fleeting, artificial success had been enough to make her pursue the real thing. This was how she had convinced Vernon to let her study art instead, speaking earnestly about her dreams.
After a morning spent deliberating, Chet House emerged as an excellent choice. Petunia was quite satisfied.
Just as she was about to call Vernon in for his opinion, he arrived, face flushed, drenched in sweat from working in the yard.
Harry, quick to notice, fetched a wet towel from the bathroom and handed it to Vernon.
Vernon nodded in thanks before turning to Petunia to complain.
"Oh, dear, you wouldn't believe what I just saw… a rabbit a rabbit running faster than anything I've ever seen!"
"It appeared out of nowhere. I jumped in fright. I swear, I'm really wary of these sudden little animals now."
"Just like that snake last month that scared our little one. I went to the zoo to demand an explanation, and they said it was a wild snake from outside. They weren't responsible, no one was hurt, and they only closed for three days to inspect. Honestly, it's infuriating!"
Petunia and Ashley were by now used to Vernon's complaints. Whenever topics even tangentially related to the zoo came up, he was likely to vent.
"A rabbit? How could there be a rabbit? Won't it dig holes in our lawn?" Petunia asked, slightly concerned.
"No, I checked. Probably someone's pet from nearby. It looked clean enough. I'll remind them to keep it contained," Vernon replied.
With no real danger, the incident became a minor footnote. No one else paid it much attention.
Meanwhile, Petunia's focus returned to Ashley's school choice. Remembering it sparked renewed energy, and she eagerly resumed discussing options with Vernon.
At the headmaster's office in the castle by the Black Lake, Professor McGonagall handed Dumbledore the list of incoming students copied from the Admission Book. There was a trace of excitement on her face.
Dumbledore adjusted his glasses, glancing first at McGonagall, then down at the list.
"Oh, it's that time again. How nostalgic… I can still picture James and Lily arriving for their first day. And now their children are ready to start…"
He paused, his eyes resting on Harry's name, lost in thought.
"Albus, aren't you worried? You know the kind of family he comes from. Apart from that little girl, they…"
"McGonagall, don't judge them with old prejudices. You said it yourself the little girl is exceptional. Harry will be fine, and you know this is the best choice for him."
Dumbledore cut her off, speaking with a meaningful warning she clearly understood.
McGonagall pursed her lips. Though she comprehended his point, her concern remained.
Dumbledore continued scanning the list, stopping at a name that caught him by surprise. A look of nostalgia and reflection crossed his face.
"Fate is curious… winding paths… that girl really is closely tied to us… I suppose I'll have to make the home visit myself."
Curious about the "girl" Dumbledore referred to, McGonagall picked up the list, locating the name he had stopped at.
There it was: Ashley Dursley.