Chapter 322: Bribing the Aurors
The next morning, Petunia bustled about the kitchen from dawn, making a whole tray of delicious sweets.
"Mmm. These are really good," Dudley said after tasting one.
"As long as you like them, have some more," Petunia said warmly. "Half the summer's gone, and I still haven't managed to put some proper weight on you. It makes a mother's heart ache."
She cupped Dudley's face with both hands, worry in her eyes.
"Just look at Harry. He has filled out nicely. His colour is so much better now," she added, turning to beam at Harry.
"Er..." Harry's mouth twitched as he glanced at Dudley.
He did not mention that half of what Petunia made for Dudley somehow ended up in his own stomach. That was why he had put on nearly ten pounds in a month.
Dudley looked him over and said with a grin, "You were too skinny before. Now you look just right. At least there is some flesh on your cheeks."
"Is it really good to get too fat, though?" Harry muttered.
"You have not only put on weight, you have grown taller. This is when you are meant to be growing. Eating more is a good thing," Dudley said.
"Harry, your birthday is in three days. Do you have any birthday wishes?" Petunia asked.
"Nothing special. Things are already very good," Harry replied with a smile.
"I see. In that case, I will arrange the party as I see fit. I hope you will like it," Petunia said, excitement sparkling in her eyes.
"All right, Aunt Petunia. I am sure I will," Harry said, smiling back.
The way things were now felt more than enough. He still remembered how, at the end of last term, he had not even wanted to come home. Back then, he was not happy here and would rather have stayed at school. This year was different. He actually found himself looking forward to the holidays.
This house was warm in a way that was different from Hogwarts, but no less real.
Dudley picked up the box of neatly wrapped sweets from the table and headed for the door.
"I am going to take some to my friends," he said.
Harry went with him.
Petunia assumed he meant his old neighbourhood friends, so she said little, only reminding Dudley to be back early.
Out on the street, Dudley's eyes swept the surroundings. It did not take long for him to spot a figure behind a tree not far away.
He walked over at a relaxed pace.
"Hello," he said.
"Hello," the witch replied.
She had blonde hair and wore Auror robes. Dudley recognised her as the witch who had stood behind Kingsley that night.
"These are some sweets my mum made. I brought you a few. Hope you like them," Dudley said, offering the box.
"Oh! They look wonderful. I have never tried Muggle food before," she said, pleasantly surprised. She took the sweets, opened the box, and tried one.
"This is really good," she said.
Her gaze on Dudley softened noticeably; a spontaneous warmth rose in her chest, and she felt an inexplicable fondness for the boy.
"Thank you, Dudley. I love them. And thank you as well, Harry," she added.
Dudley chatted with her for a while, gently nudging the conversation until she drifted away from the immediate vicinity of the house and further down the road to keep watch there instead.
After that, he repeated the same routine, tracking down each Auror posted nearby one by one and delivering sweets to them.
It did not all go smoothly.
The last Auror he approached refused the offer outright. He eyed Dudley's sudden goodwill with deep suspicion and would not accept the box at all.
From that alone, Dudley guessed he was probably one of Scrimgeour's men, sent specifically to keep an eye on him.
"If you do not like sweets, I can bring you something else," Dudley said brightly.
"No need," the middle-aged Auror said, shaking his head.
"My mum always told me that if you receive help from someone, you must give something back," Dudley went on. "You are here guarding our safety. This is just a small token of thanks."
"It is not necessary. Go back inside. Do not bring anything else," the Auror said again.
Stubborn as a rock.
Dudley's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You do not have to eat them. But please accept them," Dudley said, thrusting the box forward again. This time, his tone was firmer, carrying a faint note of command beneath the politeness.
The Auror frowned, looked at the sweets, and finally reached out to take them.
As soon as the box touched his hand, his expression changed.
"Thank you," he said, managing a small smile.
At the same time, a flicker of embarrassment crossed his face. Why had he been so harsh with a child? This was clearly a polite, well-brought-up boy trying to show gratitude.
Seeing that, the corner of Dudley's mouth tipped up.
If the Auror had still refused, Dudley had been prepared to simply throw the sweets to him. It was not as if bribery required the target's active cooperation. As long as the gift reached his hands, the effect would take hold. It would just have looked a bit less dignified.
Taking advantage of the charm already working through the gift, Dudley made small talk, subtly drawing the man out. Sure enough, he soon confirmed that Scrimgeour had assigned him here.
Dudley did not dig further. Instead, he suggested that the Auror move his patrol a little farther away so as not to disrupt the household's everyday life.
The man agreed readily and walked off towards the far end of the street.
"All done," Dudley said softly.
"Are you planning something?" Harry asked at his side.
After watching Dudley gently but firmly shoo the Aurors away with his peculiar methods, Harry had little doubt his cousin was gearing up to do something.
"I want to work on some spells. With them so close, it is hard to cast," Dudley said simply.
"All right then," Harry said. He did not think too deeply about it.
They headed back into the house.
Over the next two days, Dudley periodically brought more sweets out to the Aurors. Several new faces rotated in during that time, and all of them ended up accepting Petunia's baking and drifting farther from the Dursley home.
"It looks like there are three shifts rotating regularly. And now every one of them has been bribed," Dudley thought with satisfaction.
All he needed now was for Dobby to come with news of an opportunity.
That evening, Petunia spoke happily over dinner.
"Everything is ready for tomorrow. Harry, your birthday party will be perfect," she said.
"Oh, right, Marge is coming too. She can get to know Harry properly this time, join us for the party," Vernon said.
At the name Marge, Harry's cheerful expression vanished.
"I told her she should take a fresh look at Harry. He is part of this family now," Vernon said to him.
Harry did not reply, only nodded.
Dudley frowned slightly. In his memories, Aunt Marge had always treated Harry poorly. As a child, Dudley had never been fond of her either. He had only liked the gifts and money she brought.