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"I AM NOT GOING TO HOGWARTS!"
The moment the words echoed, silence swallowed the room.
The Dursleys were stunned.
Dumbledore even more so.
Even the tabby cat seemed frozen in place.
The declaration was too shocking.
The Savior of the Wizarding World… refusing to enter the wizarding world?
If only the Dursleys were against it, they could simply be ignored.
But Harry's own will could not be dismissed.
Only Dudley, after the brief initial shock, felt his heart fill with satisfaction.
That boy who had always followed him.
Who accepted everything in silence.
Who never voiced an opinion…
For the first time, he was declaring his own will.
Dudley looked at Harry with pride.
My little cousin has finally grown up.
…Wait.
Something about that sentence sounded strange.
...
Dumbledore, who had already developed a headache after Hagrid's report the previous day, now felt his temples throb even harder.
He did not respond to Harry directly.
Instead, he spoke first.
"I must apologize for the behavior of our Keeper of Keys. I assure you, we mean no harm."
His voice carried a gentle authority, and Harry's tension slowly began to ease.
"May we come in and talk?"
This time, Dumbledore directed the question at Dudley.
From Hagrid's account, he had already understood something important:
Though it appeared the Dursleys ran the household, the true pillar of balance in that home was their son.
"Of course, Headmaster. Please, come in."
Dudley, naturally, remained polite.
After all, you don't strike an elderly man who extends his hand with a smile.
Besides… he knew he would not win in a direct confrontation against that bearded old wizard.
Then he added, curious:
"Is anyone else with you?"
The tabby cat beside Dumbledore began to grow before their eyes.
Within seconds, it transformed into a stern-looking woman.
"This is Professor McGonagall," Dumbledore introduced. "Head of Gryffindor and Professor of Transfiguration."
"A pleasure to meet you, Professor."
Dudley greeted her respectfully.
"Incredible… is that some form of magic?"
"Yes. A branch of Transfiguration."
The answer was brief, but Dudley's respectful demeanor pleased McGonagall.
Dumbledore observed him even more closely.
A perfect balance between surprise and restraint.
...
In the living room, the atmosphere was heavy.
Petunia sat stiffly.
She had once written countless letters to Dumbledore, begging to attend Hogwarts.
All of them rejected.
Vernon kept his head lowered, muttering under his breath. To him, Dumbledore was merely an eccentric old man. McGonagall, however, made him deeply uncomfortable.
Dumbledore broke the silence.
"Tell me, Harry… why don't you wish to attend Hogwarts?"
The question was crucial.
If it were any other student, refusal would have little consequence.
But this was Harry Potter.
Harry felt the pressure of two powerful adults watching him.
He was still only eleven years old.
Even so, he answered firmly:
"Because then I wouldn't be able to study with Dudley!"
Dumbledore cast a brief glance at Dudley, then exchanged a look with McGonagall.
Both relaxed.
'At least it's nothing more serious involving Hagrid,' McGonagall thought.
'Who would have imagined their bond ran this deep,' Dumbledore reflected.
"We promised we would go to Smeltings together," Harry insisted.
If only he could go to Hogwarts…
Even if it were paradise itself, he would refuse.
...
McGonagall softened her expression.
"Harry, in that case, you needn't worry."
"Because your cousin, Dudley Dursley, has also been accepted as a student this year."
Dumbledore turned to Dudley.
"The letter was sent along with Harry's. You didn't receive it?"
"What?! Dudley?!"
Petunia shot to her feet.
The greatest dream of her youth had been to study at Hogwarts.
'Did I… give birth to a wizard?'
Parents sometimes project onto their children the dreams they never fulfilled.
If Dudley went to Hogwarts…
In a way, he would be fulfilling her dream.
She sat back down, embarrassed.
If it were only Harry, she would have been completely against it.
But Dudley too?
Her heart wavered.
Human beings are contradictory.
She had loved Lily.
But she had envied her too.
Perhaps that was why she had treated Harry with a certain harshness — giving the best to Dudley, the worst to Harry.
Comparisons ease personal frustration.
Even so… she had never stopped loving Harry, in her own way.
The ancient protection spell Lily cast had been rooted in love.
Without love, it would never have endured.
Perhaps it could all be summed up like this:
"You don't want your sibling to suffer… but you also don't want them driving a better car than you."
Human nature.
...
"You mean this letter?"
Dudley pulled a charred piece of paper from his pocket.
"Unfortunately, when I found it, it was already like this."
He still wasn't sure whether he truly could study at Hogwarts.
With that "almost-wizard" body and only 0.8 magical power…
It was hard to believe.
"Oh, Merlin…" McGonagall murmured.
She touched the paper with her wand.
In a flash, the letter was restored, as if it had never been burned.
Dudley watched carefully.
'Incredible…'
"Dear Mr. Dursley: We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry…"
It was real.
Even keeping his face calm, Dudley felt his heart race.
Dumbledore spoke again, his piercing blue eyes fixed on him.
"I have heard from Mrs. Figg that you take a great interest in the magical world… and in magic itself."
He paused.
"Would you like to study at Hogwarts?"
"In the name of the school, I formally extend the invitation to you."
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