The birthday trip to the zoo, one of Ashley's gifts, ended on a sour note.
By the time they returned home, the part of the celebration everyone had looked forward to unwrapping presents had lost its usual charm.
Everyone seemed unusually attentive to Ashley, watching her reactions with concern.
But Ashley herself looked drained, as if the shock from the reptile house had completely sapped her energy.
That night, she went to bed especially early, and Petunia seemed prepared.
Sure enough, she developed a high fever during the night.
Harry and Dudley, yawning endlessly past midnight, were promptly sent off to bed by Petunia.
That left only Petunia and Vernon to stay with Ashley through the night.
After a night of worry and care, Ashley emerged unscathed.
When she woke the next morning, fully recovered, she found Petunia asleep beside her. The house was unusually quiet, lacking the typical morning bustle.
Ashley glanced at the bedside shelf: a basin of water with a towel, medicine bottles, and a cup. It was easy to piece together what had happened overnight.
Moved, she gently hugged Petunia and tucked the blanket around her before tiptoeing out of bed to tidy the room.
Downstairs, she began preparing breakfast.
Following Petunia's usual routine, she brewed coffee, fried bacon, cooked patties and pancakes, tossed a tomato and lettuce salad, and added milk already set at the door. The spread looked hearty and well-prepared.
Harry was the first to wake. At the scent of breakfast, he had expected to see Aunt Petunia in the kitchen, but instead found Ashley. He was surprised and overjoyed.
"Ashley, you're okay! That's such a relief! Last night, you looked so worried… I'm so glad you're fine."
He stepped forward, scanning her carefully. Seeing she had fully recovered, he hugged her, his voice filled with concern and relief.
Ashley patted his back lightly to calm him. Just as she was about to speak, a loud "thump thump thump" announced Dudley coming down the stairs.
She barely had time to whisper, "Come to my room later," before Dudley enveloped her in a warm, exuberant hug.
Harry, pulled aside by Dudley, didn't mind. He just met Ashley's eyes and nodded.
At that moment, Ashley's gaze toward Dudley was a mix of emotions.
She even wondered if Dudley had some kind of magic of his own, and that his power was simply reflection.
Otherwise, how could she explain that her "curses" seemed to backfire on herself?
No, she couldn't think about it too much. The thought alone made her shiver.
She had to admit: snakes were by far the creatures she feared most in her life.
Dudley had no idea about the resentment simmering in his sister's heart. Seeing her recovered, he finally unleashed all the excitement he hadn't managed yesterday.
Chatter, chatter, about who gave him which cake, how delicious it was, and so on.
Ashley listened quietly, her mind occupied by the lingering frustration from the "backfire." She didn't retaliate, partly because she acknowledged Dudley had worried about her all night.
Of course, she couldn't voice her irritation. That would have been asking for ridicule. She swallowed it silently, nursing her quiet annoyance.
Around ten, Petunia and Vernon came downstairs.
Though their sleep had been short, Ashley's recovery lifted their spirits. They looked refreshed and happy.
Ashley dutifully served the breakfast she had kept warm for them, earning smiles of satisfaction and relief.
After finishing the long-delayed breakfast, Petunia announced that lunch would be postponed.
No one objected; leftover cake from yesterday would suffice as snacks.
Vernon complained that the zoo should offer an explanation and went out, coat in hand.
Petunia went out with Dudley to pick up a gift they hadn't bought the day before. Harry and Ashley made excuses to stay home, leaving only the two of them alone.
"Ashley, why are you looking at me like that? And why are we talking alone? Is there something Aunt Petunia shouldn't know?"
Ashley and Harry sat facing each other on her small couch, wedged into her room.
Not only was the door locked, but the sliding wardrobe had been pulled out to block it, making the room practically impenetrable from the outside. Even with a key, no one could get in.
In other words, this was as safe as safety could be.
Ashley frowned, staring intently at Harry without speaking, making him nervous.
Finally, she asked, "Harry, do you know what happened after the snake attacked me yesterday?"
Harry paused, ready to answer, then froze as he realized he had forgotten or overlooked something.
"Ashley… the snake seemed to get into the exhibit… but…"
He suddenly remembered the little snake he had glimpsed inside the exhibit and realized something was off.
"But there was glass there. How did it get in?"
Ashley calmly completed his thought.
Harry, startled, nodded quickly.
"Ashley, can you tell me what you were thinking when that snake tried to attack you?"
"Just… don't hurt her, go away… get inside…"
Harry's eyes widened, his body trembling as he stammered, "So… it was me… I did that?"
Ashley nodded seriously, confirming, "Yes, it must have been you. It was just the two of us nearby."
After a long pause, Harry spoke, his voice hoarse, "Ashley… you… were you scared?"
Ashley had been considering how to explain it so he would understand without panicking. She hadn't expected him to worry about this, which was both touching and amusing.
"No, I would never be afraid of you, Harry. And you were saving me I know that."
Her firm tone reassured Harry. He felt much better, though he was still uneasy about his strange power.
"But… Ashley… how could I… do that?"
Ashley knew the answer wouldn't come from her now. She could only say,
"I don't know. Maybe it's a kind of special ability, given to you by fate… a unique mission, perhaps."
The slightly dramatic explanation was perfectly acceptable to a child like Harry.
His face turned red, his previous pallor replaced with excitement.
Before he could fully enjoy the thought of being a chosen one, Ashley added a note of caution.
"Harry, you need to keep your emotions steady. Do you understand?"
Harry immediately calmed. "You mean… my ability is controlled by my emotions?"
Ashley didn't elaborate. She placed a glass of water on the table and said, "Harry, focus on it. Try to make it move."
Harry pursed his lips, recalling the sensation from the reptile house. He concentrated, staring at the glass, willing it to move.
Ashley watched anxiously. Time seemed to stretch an instant, then an hour before the glass let out a faint "shh" and shifted slightly.
Harry gasped, then collapsed on the couch as if drained, just as he had in the reptile house.
Though the glass moved only half a centimeter, both Ashley and Harry got the answer they needed.
Harry's exhaustion was from mental and magical overexertion. Without proper training, his power dissipated into the air, making it difficult to control.
Ashley understood this in theory but couldn't help him practically. He would need formal instruction later.
She couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. Magic… anyone watching Harry Potter would dream of wielding a wand.
But she reminded herself not to dwell. As Petunia's daughter, she had long accepted she was not destined to be a second Petunia.
Having magical talent was wonderful, but not having it was not a tragedy. Life was still good.
Returning to business, Ashley gathered herself and said sternly,
"Harry, now you understand. When your emotions peak and you hope for something to happen, that ability may manifest. Until we learn how to control it, you must manage your feelings carefully.
"If one day anger or fear triggers it accidentally, you could do something irreversible.
"Also, this ability isn't common. The fewer people who know, the better. Curious adults… well, you don't want that."
Her unfinished warning sent a shiver through Harry.
He understood immediately, meeting her gaze seriously. "Ashley, I understand. I'll listen to you."
Ashley smiled slightly, and Harry felt completely reassured. That evening marked another secret shared between them.
Unnoticed, their trust had deepened to a new level. "I'll listen to you" became a promise Harry would carry from that day forward.