The Letter

Staring at the letter in his hand, Dudley furrowed his brow. While he wasn't intimately familiar with the intricacies of the original Harry Potter story, he knew enough to recognize that it involved magical wizards and such. However, receiving a letter like this at his home was a clear indicator that the mysterious world of wizards and witches, which had been distant from Harry Potter's life for a decade, was about to make a surprising entrance into their home.

The letter intended for Harry was sealed with crimson wax, and the front bore the unmistakable inscription "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry", accompanied by a captivating school emblem in the center. This emblem was like nothing Dudley had ever seen before; it featured four creatures, including what appeared to be a snake, a lion, and an eagle and a badger.

"A letter of acceptance from the Hogwarts?" Dudley whispered to himself, clutching the envelope. He hesitated for a moment, not immediately handing it to Harry. It wasn't that he wished to obstruct Harry's potential opportunity to join Hogwarts. It was the timing that left Dudley somewhat bewildered. It was only February, and this letter, arriving almost seven months in advance, left them with a tight window of preparation.

Harry, who had not yet discovered his wizarding talents, was on the brink of communication with the wizarding world himself, and this could bring Dudle's journey in biological research to an unexpected halt. Contemplating this, Dudley decided to leave the room.

After swapping his shoes for a more comfortable pair, he overheard the slightly irritated voice of Vernon, his uncle, in the adjacent room. Vernon's tone was unamused as he admonished someone.

"Petunia, how many times have I told you not to engage in idle chatter with those elderly ladies until you've thoroughly confirmed the facts? They have nothing better to do all day than to peddle fear and anxiety, and remember, it's your time and energy wasted dealing with their unfounded worries."

Petunia couldn't help but frown at Vernon's stern words. "Peddling fear and anxiety," she repeated with a hint of annoyance.

"Vernon, are you serious when you say this?"

Vernon couldn't help but dramatically slam his hand onto the table, causing it to resonate throughout the room:

"Petunia, you are still stuck in the nineteenth century with those old-fashioned ideas, and we must carefully consider our children's education."

Petunia, on the other hand, was all ears as she listened to her husband's passionate speech. She swiveled in her chair to face him:

"Alright, Vernon Dursley, I want to remind you that any decision regarding our child should involve consulting with the child."

Vernon's shoulders slumped as he sighed helplessly and spread his hands:

"Petunia, you've been working from home, and you don't know what those public schools are like."

As the discussion continued, Dudley, made a soft coughing sound, and both parents immediately stopped, turning their attention to him with warm smiles.

"Dudley, welcome home! Me and, your mother has something important to discuss."

Vernon nudged Petunia, and with a somewhat awkward twist of his large frame, he approached Dudley. His eyes were filled with curiosity as he gazed at a fluffy creature perched atop his son's head.

Dudley absentmindedly reached into his pocket, and the little "Totoro" he had stashed there seemed to have vanished, reappearing on his head.

"Dudley, I can't help but feel like this little fella seems a bit down. You haven't been conned by those pet store salesmen, have you?"

Vernon raised an eyebrow, clearly distrustful of those who always seemed to make a hefty profit from unsuspecting children and women.

....

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