How to tame a Basilisk

It's a beautiful and sunny day in Wiltshire, but the Manor still seems to loom dark in the distance. Draco gulps heavily and falls into step behind his father, who has come to fetch him from the station. As they stride along the Malfoys trademark albino peacocks populating the front yard and towards the grand entrance, Draco can't help but think of the last time he's been at that place. How everything had seemed to be lost, how he was living with all of those despicable Death Eaters and their master. How the screams from the dungeons cut through every meal he took, making him unable to eat most of the time. How Potter and his friends had arrived caught by the snatchers and how he'd lied to his family for them. He pulls up all of his Occlumency shields, he can not show any weakness in the presence of his father. The man should be sitting in Azkaban right now. Well, so should Draco himself, but here we are. Straightening his posture Draco follows his father into the entrance hall and is immediately taken aback by how normal everything looks. He had almost forgotten the way his home used to shine and radiate elegance, with the last years of absolute terror and fear roaming the halls. He can't help but look around in astonishment. The marble walls have their usual pristine shine, as if freshly polished, no blood stains from bodies thrown around to be seen. The matching marble floor shows no cracks from curses gone awry. All of the vases are intact and filled with bouquets of freshly cut roses, exuding their calming scent. No werewolf-made scratch marks along the paintings of his ancestors. This feels almost like a dream of simpler times Draco's been thrown into. But then his mother arrives and behind her he can make out a familiar head of long, dark curls.

''Draco dear, you are back, and how you've grown! I hope you had a lovely year and that you will tell us all about it at dinner.'' his mother smiles at him. With a nervous glance behind her she adds.

''This is my sister, your aunt Bella, Draco. She is living with us for now, I must ask you to treat her with the same respect you show to us, your parents.''

''Awww, my ickle nephew Drakey baby. It's been so long since we've seen each other last.'' Bellatrix cackles.

Draco abruptly remembers why he hates the nickname Pansy's chosen for him. Nothing that his aunt says can be good.

He pulls himself together and plasters a pleasant smile on his face.

''Aunt Bella, it is nice to meet you.'' he nods.

In response Bellatrix shows off all of her once white teeth in a smile that rivals any predator.

''We shall be the bestest of friends little Drakey baby, I'm sure.'' she coos with a wild glint in her eyes.

Luckily Draco's mother uses this moment to step between them once again.

''Draco dear, you must be tired from the travel. Why don't you go up to your rooms and freshen up, unpack your trunk and when you're ready join us for dinner.'' she shoos him towards the grand staircase. Grateful, Draco immediately takes off towards his rooms, taking two steps at a time once he is out of sight.

Dinner at Malfoy Manor has never been a light affair. Sure, when his parents still used to throw their lively soirées a lot of influential people used to mingle in the ballrooms, and then during the Dark Lord's stay at the Manor the dining room resembled more of a tavern for especially rowdy scavengers. But back when Draco and his parents used to be the only occupants of the vast dining area, almost no words were spoken during dinner, except for the occasional pretentious questioning his father used to subject Draco to. So having Bellatrix at the table without any of her fellow Death eaters- other than his father- proves to be an interesting concept.

''Oooh and Cissy, remember when mother used to hold all of these balls and the Fawcetts came and brought their little Tommy and Liza?'' she cackles sardonically, so Draco knows what comes next will probably spoil his appetite.

His mother just nods with a pained expression on her usually blank face.

''They were so excited to play with us weren't they, ickle babies. But they didn't seem to be excited when I introduced them to one of our favourite games.'' Bellatrix mock-pouts. ''But little Tommy did so well when I made his sister cut off his fingers. He only started screaming after the second one, remember?'' she smiles dreamily. ''Of course little Liza was crying once I took the Imperius off and ran to her mummy.'' Bellatrix rolls her eyes. ''But she was still holding the bloody secateurs and we convinced everyone that she did it on her own!'' Bellatrix laughs gleefully. ''Remember Cissy? Ah, those were the times.'' she grins maliciously.

Draco can only stare at his mother, who softly clears her throat.

''I remember Bella. I also remember that the Fawcetts never attended one of mother's galas again, and she was very angry with us, having lost her such an influential ally.'' Draco's mother tilts her head slightly towards her sister.

Bellatrix just giggles and waves her off with a hand. '' Nah, once she got over it she was pretty proud of me for mastering the Imperious curse at nine years-old.'' she grins proudly.

Draco gulps. Of course he knew about his aunt's fascination with the Unforgivables, but he had no idea she started this young. And to think that his mother used to join her... He's not sure how to feel about that. His father continues to ignore his sister-in-law and cuts through his steak-mignon.

Bellatrix seems to notice his defensiveness towards her and suddenly turns her attention completely on Draco's father.

''Sweet Lucius, don't tell me you never had such fun when you were young'' she blinks innocently at him.

Slowly taking one sip of his wine, his father fixes his eyes on a point near the end of the table, not granting Bellatrix one look.

''I suppose my fun at that age used to be a little more... sophisticated... than that. I always knew the importance of allies, so no, I would have never tortured one of the children of my parent's guests.'' he raises his eyebrows at that, still not looking directly at Bellatrix.

A flicker of anger flashes over Bellatrix' face, but it is gone in an instant, and she giggles in her usual insane manner.

''Ooh, but torture always suited you so well when our Lord took you on one of his trips.''

At that, Draco's mother clears her throat less subtly than before and gently chides,

''Bella, this is enough. Draco has only just turned twelve, he does not need to hear anything about...your hobbies..., dear sister.'' Narcissa fixes Bellatrix with a stern smile. ''Don't you remember how sweetly you were looking after me, when I had one of those nightmares?'' Draco's mother tries to redirect the topic towards a less gruesome theme.

Bellatrix rolls her eyes once again. ''I can only hope he has inherited the stomach of your husband, Cissy. I remember how you used to cry at the blood pouring from little Tommy's hands after his sister was done with him. You're lucky I was always there for you, or you'd never have amounted to anything dear baby sister.'' she shoots Draco's mother a crazy grin, that somehow still manages to look fond. Narcissa returns it with a soft, but slightly sad looking smile.

The conversation after that takes on a little more subdued tone, though his father and Bellatrix both seem to slowly bond over past missions with the Dark Lord. Granted, they talk in rather coded terms, but having been a Death Eater himself, Draco can mostly recognize what they are discussing.

After the meal, Draco gratefully retreats to his rooms, still a little shook by his aunts presence and childhood stories. Sprawling on his bed, he can't help but feel anger rising in hist chest. Anger at Potter, who just had to free his stupid godfather, which is why Draco is now forced to live with a sadistic crazy person once again. He swallows down the bile that threatens to rise up, whenever he thinks too deeply about Bellatrix' stories and his own memories of his insane aunt. He'll just have to make the best of this summer, at least Bellatrix is currently the only one of the former group of violent squatters. Better her than Greyback, Draco thinks dryly as he falls asleep.

Over the next weeks Bellatrix and his father seem to spend more time together, wile Draco's mother still tries to -vainly- remind her sister of parts of her less gruesome-nature.

Draco has taken to spending most of his time in his rooms, as he's not keen on accidentally meeting his aunt alone in one of the corridors. Still, Draco's resolve to find out more about his father's plans, in case they have changed now that Bellatrix is here, keeps him from secluding himself completely.

It is on one of his trips to his father's study, that he can hear muffled voices behind the door. He quickly casts a disillusionment charm on himself and goes to listen in.

''...why would you start with this only now, Lucius?'' Bellatrix' voice hisses

''You don't trust the judgement of our Lord, Bella?'' comes Lucius' dangerous voice

Apparently offended by this Bellatrix raises her voice ''How dare you say that? You who have publicly denounced our master, when I have spent the last decade in Azkaban for supporting him proudly...''

''Listen, Bella. This is the perfect timing. Through Draco we have the best possible access to Hogwarts and Harry Potter is also in his year. The Potter boy will die for his crimes and Hogwarts and our world will be rid of him and all those that support him. And we will be free once again to spread the Dark Lord's message, he will win after all.''

''And all we need to do is get this book into the hands of one of those little brats? Why not your son, Lucius, wouldn't that be easiest?'' Bellatrix coos sadistically.

His father clears his throat pointedly ''Our Lord has requested for a disposable child. Are you willing to go against his wishes? Or are you insinuating that my son is disposable?''

Draco gulps heavily. It's a terrible thought, but he is glad that his father at least cares about his bloodline enough that he chose the girl-Weasel last time. He's not sure Potter and his friends would've cared enough to save him, if it had been Draco taken into the chamber at the end of second year.

''Alright, alright Lucius, don't get your knickers in a twist.'' Bellatrix cackles ''Your precious heir is in no danger, and I can't wait to hear how painful the death of the great little Potter brat will be.'' she sounds dreamily.

''Oh you and me both Bella. We will use on of the blood-traitor Weasley's children, they certainly have enough to spare one or two.

You, store this safely until I call you again. You may not take it out under any other circumstances but if I tell you so personally, is that clear?'' Lucius snarls at someone.

There is a tiny squeak and a House-elves' voice sounds shakily ''Yes Master, Dobby is taking care of it.'' It's followed by a shrill little scream and Bellatrix sadistic cackle.

''Bella, if you would be so kind not to damage my House-elves permanently, it'd be much appreciated.'' Lucius drawls and is met by more insane laughter. ''You may go now Dobby, take care of the diary and remember your orders!''

The door opens and a tiny house-elf with a bleeding gash on his forehead emerges from the study. Draco immediately flattens himself against the wall, but apparently not fast enough. Fuck, this is Dobby, the house-elf Potter freed last time.

''Master Draco?'' the creature sniffles.

Draco quickly holds up a finger to his pursed lips, to signal the elf to be quiet.

''Dobby, meet me in my rooms after you have taken care of father's order.'' he whispers.

Dobby's eyes widen slightly, but he nods and Draco hurries back to his rooms to wait for the elf.

Dobby is still bleeding from the wound on his head when he enters Draco's bedroom a little while later. He looks around uncertain, not being used to Draco summoning and or talking to the little elf.

''Master Draco asked for Dobby?'' he squeaks quietly.

Suddenly Draco is pretty unsure of himself. Although he has shed most of his past beliefs, he can't really bring himself to see one of the servants as an equal, like Potter does and he has never really talked to the house-elves except for short requests or to taunt them when he was little. Also, if his plans to free Dobby should go awry, he's not sure what the elf would tell his father about their conversation.

Taking a deep breath Draco tells himself that this is necessary to their plans and crouches down to meet the elf on eye-level.

''Dobby, why are you still bleeding?'' he tries to start with a less precarious question.

The little elf wrings it's hands and averts his eyes ''Mistress Bellatrix has forbidden Dobby from healing himself.'' he murmurs.

Deciding that this might be a good opportunity to win some trust from Dobby, Draco pulls out his wand and casts a quick healing spell.

The elf gasps and his eyes widen comically.

''Master Draco has helped Dobby! Master Draco is too kind! Why would Master Draco aid Dobby?'' the elf inquires astonished.

''Listen Dobby,'' Draco starts ''I know you're planning on going to warn Harry Potter not to go to school this year because of my father's plans.''

He didn't think it possible, but the elf's eyes widen even more, making him look like an oversized owl with saucers for eyes. He begins to shiver in obvious fear and his look darts from Draco's wand to his face and to the door, seemingly searching for an escape.

Draco puts his wand away and holds out his hands placatingly in front of him.

''You're not in any trouble Dobby!'' he tries to calm the elf ''I want to help you, Harry Potter is my... friend... and he..we know about the diary and we have a plan.''

Dobby is now staring at Draco in complete shock.

''Master Draco is friends with Harry Potter?'' he asks in awe.

Draco inwardly cringes, but calling Potter his friend seems like the best course of action right now.

''Er, yes. He is. Um, I am I mean. Look Dobby, you can not tell my father about that under any circumstances, do you understand?'' Draco pleads.

The expression of awe and shock on the elf's face transforms into one of determination.

''Dobby will help Master Draco. Any friend of Harry Potter must be a good wizard. What can Dobby do?'' he asks with resolution in his high-pitched voice.

Draco quickly exhales the breath he was holding. This is going better than he'd feared.

''Okay great, Dobby, thank you! So we have a plan and you...'' he starts but is interrupted by tears welling in the house-elf's eyes.

''Master Draco really is a kind and good wizard. Never has anybody thanked Dobby.'' he sobs.

Panicking a little at this emotional outburst from an elf, Draco tries to soothe him by tentatively reaching out a hand to pat his shoulder. That seems to only increase the flow of tears though, as Dobby throws himself into Draco's arms with a loud weep. Utterly stunned by that show of trust from a creature Draco has only ever treated like filth, his heart melts in the little elf's embrace.

Clearing his throat pointedly, Draco gives Dobby some final pats on the back and disentangles himself from the house-elf's arms.

''Listen Dobby, I need you to stay put and pretend like nothing's happened, okay?'' he softly says to the nodding elf. ''Don't worry, I will tell you soon what we're planning, yeah? I'll talk to Pot- Harry first and as soon as I know more, I'll call for you and everything's going to be alright, hm?''

''Dobby will make master Draco and his friend the great Harry Potter proud.'' the elf promises solemnly, then with a snap of his fingers disappears, probably towards the kitchens.

Draco sighs. This was... well. This was different. He's not entirely sure what he feels right now, but somehow the whole changing things doesn't seem as bad of an idea as it did before. Not if it leads to something like that, like Draco might possibly have a chance of being viewed as a better person than he once was.

P,

I have successfully determined that the original ploy is still in action. I have also talked to your friend, that currently still resides at my place. I am also working on our plan, so that your friend can come visit you whenever he wishes. Don't worry, I think I've got it handled. You also don't have to fear for any unwelcome visits to keep you from going back to school.

Send your reply back with my owl Tarragon, as I don't think seeing yours at my home would be appreciated by some of my relatives.

M.

***

Number 4 Privet Drive looks the same as always. Still, the feeling of being back here after having been convinced of never having to enter this wretched place again, is utter dread. Taking a deep breath, Harry gets out of his uncle's car and walks up to the door, closely followed by Vernon Dursley. As soon as they are inside, Vernon takes Harry's trunk and wand and locks them in the cupboard under the stairs.

''No funny business for you, boy. And no talking about any of the things you've seen at that place, with all your fellow freaks.'' he barks.

But Harry isn't listening. He is staring at the cupboard, the place that has once been his 'room', his refuge. How he could've ever seen it as anything else but a prison is beyond him now. Sleepless nights filled with hunger and tears flood his memories at the sight. It is so tiny. Harry swallows heavily. He can only hope that with his experience and eighteen-year-old-brain he will be able to have a better summer than last time around. And that Malfoy can somehow keep Dobby from coming around and fucking up Harry's already fucked up summer any more, by trying to help.

Wordlessly he follows his uncle up the stairs and into Dudley's second bedroom, barely listening to the threats about keeping quiet and behaving normal thrown his way. As soon as Vernon leaves and shuts the door behind him, Harry exhales and pulls the things he'd hidden from his relatives out of his pocket. He'd owl-ordered a small children's trunk when it became clear that he'd have to return to Surrey once again. The trunk is charmed so that even underage wixen can easily shrink and unshrink it themselves, without having to use any magic. After placing the bag on the floor and tapping the little button, it unfolds itself from the size of an envelope to the size of a moderately big trunk. Opening the lid, Harry pulls out his real wand first. While he doesn't plan on illegally using any underage magic, he won't risk not being able to defend himself, now that Bellatrix is free. He's just glad that he thought of a safe storage for his things and to take a random stick with him to pose as his wand. Having already lived this summer once, proves to be somewhat convenient at least. Preparing for a boring evening, before he's expected to come downstairs again to receive his summer-household-duties list, Harry takes out some parchment and a quill to get a head start on his homework.

Harry easily slips back into the usual routine of cooking, cleaning and being yelled at by Petunia and Vernon. He gets up at dawn to prepare breakfast and starts on his daily housekeeping chores, so that he's mostly ready when it's getting too hot to really move anymore. He tends to spend the rest of the day in his room or in the shadow in the bushes outside the living room windows, which has the additional benefit of almost never seeing his cousin Dudley, who tends to sleep in until noon during the summer holidays. Homework designed for first-years is unsurprisingly quickly finished and Harry focuses more on reading ahead in the few advanced books he'd borrowed from the Hogwarts library. Food is scarce but at least he's not getting it through a cat-flap this time. Still his empty stomach aches after a few days of only some slices of bread and a chunk of cheese a day, and Harry decides to put his invisibility cloak to the use. He's never really had the chance to use it in the muggle world before, which makes it all the more exciting the first time he leaves the house to walk to the local supermarket. Harry chooses to go into the Tesco rather than one of the smaller family-run grocery stores, as he has no muggle money to spend and he'd feel more guilty stealing from a family's income rather than a big chain. Equipped with a small bag, he goes and grabs some fruits and a few pre-packed meals. Wandering the aisles he also finds a small microwave he can plug in in his room, so that his relatives won't find out about him eating more than the little they give him. With the microwave tucked into the bag, it's full very fast and Harry leaves to haul the heavy tote back to the Dursley's.

Being well-fed and not working in the glaring summer heat more than absolutely necessary has a wonderful effect on Harry's mind. Vernon and Petunia still taunt him whenever they are slightly irritated about something, but Harry is so calm that he can ignore all of their jabs. After a while they seem to get bored by his non-responsiveness to their bullying and they mostly leave him to his own.

That is until one day Harry is quietly cleaning the kitchen, when suddenly loud screams echo from the living room. Immediately he is in fight or flight mode, preparing to fend off some rogue Death Eaters that might've infiltrated the house. He lets the plate he was just drying fall to the ground where it splatters as he runs towards the noise. Skittering to a halt in front of the living-room door, he startles as a red-faced Vernon stamps towards him.

''What was that, boy?'' he bellows and Petunia emerges from behind him as Vernon grabs Harry's ear and pulls him back to the kitchen. Harry can catch one glimpse of the telly, where some action film is blaring on full volume, so no Death Eaters, just a muggle movie. The relief he feels is short lived as Petunia shrieks once she sees one of her fine china plates broken into little pieces on the floor.

''What have you done? My beautiful china!'' she sobs, kneeling on the floor to examine the damage.

''That's it boy, we let you live in our home, let you eat from our plates and you go on destroying them? No food for the rest of the week for you!'' Vernon hollers angrily.

Biting back the remark that they'd never let him eat from one of their fine plates anyway, as Harry only gets some cheap paper platters, Harry takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

When it is clear to Vernon and Petunia that they won't get a rise out of Harry like they seem to wish, Vernon adds ''Useless and ungrateful, just like those parents of yours. Should've died with them and saved us all the pain of having you here, you freak.''

Oh and at that something inside of Harry snaps. Not even enough food and rest can dampen the ice-cold shudder through his spine.

Very calmly he straightens his back and stares pointedly into his uncle's eyes. ''Don't you talk about my parents.'' he hisses.

This reaction seems to only spurn Vernon on as he bursts into an evil grin, ''Oh, some parents you had boy. Couldn't even protect themselves could they. Nobody loved you enough to take you in, so as the only upstanding citizens willing to step in you were dumped in front of our door like the trash you and your family are. Be grateful we are so generous to care for you, when we already have our perfect Dudley who deserves and should receive all of our attention.''

During Vernon's little rant Petunia has pulled herself back up onto her feet and is now also glowering at Harry.

He takes a deep breath and says what someone should've told those two a long time ago.

''My parents will always be thousand times the parents that you are. Even in death they did a better job than you two ever could. You are selfish, vile and utterly empty-headed. Your precious little Dudley is growing up spoiled, over-weight and unhealthy, unfit for the real world, because you are completely unsuited to parent any child. The way you're treating even your own son will make him probably die of a diet-related heart attack before he's fifty, something I can only hope you, Vernon, will soon manage yourself. I'd rather have no one at all than to be forced to live with you, but here we are. You and I both know I have to stay here, Petunia, or trust me I would've left your meagre, sad little house a long time ago.

I will be in my room now, call me if a miracle happens and you two grow some sort of heart and consciousness. If not, which I think we all know it will be, stay out of my way and I'll stay out of yours. And trust me, you don't want to mess with me, you have no idea what I'm capable of.''

He throws them one last deathly glare each before turning around and walking out of the kitchen. In the hall he almost stumbles over a dumbstruck Dudley who apparently listened in on their argument.

'Good for him,' Harry thinks grinding his teeth, 'maybe he'll realize a little earlier what a shitshow of parents he really has.'

Up in his room a beautiful Eagle owl is waiting with a letter tied to her leg. Harry immediately unties it and rips it open. Skimming the text he turns to tell the owl to wait for his reply, but unnecessarily so, as he is already cuddling up to Hedwig on her perch and snacking on as few of her treats. Harry hurries to write an answer, reluctantly impressed with how coded Malfoy has put his writing, and determined to do the same.

M,

That's good that everything's going according to plan! Don't put yourself in any danger though. I can't wait for my friend to be able to visit me whenever he wants to. Please tell him to come immediately after his duties are done, so I can maybe share some ideas with him. I hope all goes well and that your ideas work.

P

***

Harry is weird this summer. Whatever they're teaching him over at that school for freaks, it seems to have really messed with his head somehow. He just doesn't seem to be afraid of Dudley or mum and dad anymore. Last year, before they went on the run and the shocking news about Harry being a wizard came with the scary big man, Harry had been constantly ducking and flinching whenever on of them approached him. And what's even weirder, is how he behaves instead. He kind of seems... older? He's sometimes treating mum and dad like Dudley's friend Gordon's mum treats him. And to Dudley... Somehow Harry has been... nice? And of course, Harry was never mean to Dudley, he had made sure of that, showing Harry his place with the help of his parents and friends early on. But he was never outright nice to Dudley. He was just always too scared to be anything but polite.

So, Harry's behaviour this summer has given Dudley a lot to think about. Really, more thoughts than he has ever spent on his cousin in all of their years together.

All that thinking about Harry has exhausted and kind of annoyed Dudley, so when he is roaming the streets with his gang of friends one afternoon and Piers spots Harry walking on the opposite side of the street, his annoyance flares up and he follows his friends to a little bit of Harry-jostling.

''Potter, heard they sent you to St. Brutus huh?'' Piers gloats loudly before they even reach Harry ''Been getting your daily beatings from someone else there? Well good for you we're here now to take over again!' he laughs.

And Harry... Harry just sends them a look. Normally by now he'd have turned and ran until Dudley and his friends either got him or he could escape up into a tree or something.

Piers, Malcolm and Gordon seem equally confused by that reaction and they halt in their steps for a moment, while Harry looks them each up and down with one raised eyebrow. Before any of them can pull themselves together, Harry crosses his arms in front of his chest and makes a point of looking at each of them individually while he says

''Listen up you guys. Piers, I know your parents are utter arseholes who don't care about you, but that doesn't mean they're going to give you any attention just because you bully some kids who are smaller than you. Malcolm, I guess it must've been difficult when your dad left your family, but being a mean git isn't going to bring him back. And Gordon, your parents actually love you, no idea how you ended up with Dudley and his friends here. But I guess you must be worried about anybody finding out about your preferences, hm? Honestly, just because you are a bully yourself isn't going to stop any other pieces of shit to come after you, once they find out. And hey, I'm not saying that's right, because it really isn't, but being a bastard to everyone around you isn't going to protect you, Gordon. And Dudley? Well I guess you know what the problem with your parents is, don't you? You were listening in on our little chat after all.

So if any of you really think beating me up is somehow going to make you feel better, by all means go ahead'' Harry shrugs.

Dudley can't do anything else but gape at his cousin. What the hell is wrong with him? This is not how this is supposed to go! His friends all stare at Harry with matching expressions of shock and disbelief. Slowly, Piers and Malcolm seem to come out of their shock-induced paralysis and their faces morph from angry to furious in a matter of seconds. Raising his fist, Piers storms the last few steps towards Harry, who is still just looking at them with a rather bored and disappointed expression. Before Piers can hit Harry straight in the face as he is clearly preparing to do, Dudley makes a split-second decision.

''Stop!'' he yells and just centimetres away from Harry's chin, Piers' fist comes to a halt.

All of his friends, and Harry turn their disbelieving stares at Dudley in an instant. But this is what he's their unofficial leader for. They will listen to his judgement and his orders, so he pointedly glares at his friends and beckons them over with a tilt of his head.

''Come on guys, he's not worth it. I think they must've messed up his brain or something at Brutus. Won't be any fun if he's so used to being beaten that he doesn't even care anymore.''

Slowly, Piers and Malcolm make their way back to Dudley and Gordon, who surprisingly didn't immediately storm after Harry, not without sending a few nasty gazes back over their shoulders.

And Harry. Harry just stares at Dudley, and after a pause, he nods.

Dudley isn't sure what to make of this, as he beckons his friends with him to find some other havoc to cause. But somehow he feels more seen than ever before in his life. Of course he loves being spoilt with presents and attention by his parents, but maybe.. just maybe, Harry has a little bit of a point. Sometimes, Dudley just wishes for some kind of guidance, and that's not something he will get from his parents anytime soon, he suspects.

Firmly cracking his knuckles, as he often does when he's especially determined about something, Dudley decides that it can't hurt to maybe be a little nicer to his cousin. Who knows, perhaps Harry can somehow give him what he misses from his parents. He certainly seems he could this summer.