A.N. Some reviewers seem to be concerned about the nudity. Well, let me emphasize – nudity has nothing to do with sex. Just have a look at one of the official naturist sites (as opposed to porn sites masquerading as naturist ones) and you'll notice. Still, if nudity offends you, please stop reading this story. I have no intention to offend anybody, but the story is the way it is and whoever doesn't like it is encouraged not to read any farther.

26-Starting Summer Vacation '92

"Why don't you get dressed for your exercise and fade to my room? We can exercise together, and Dad will love it if you join us," Hermione said when they woke up.

Harry didn't really listen. At night, with the lights off, he could barely see her. In the morning, with the room well lighted, he couldn't take his eyes off her naked body. Hermione felt quite flattered by his reaction, yet after asking him twice, she needed a reply. She snapped her fingers in front of his face. "Harry! Are you even listening?"

He was finally able to move his attention elsewhere. "Sorry," he said blushing, "I was too fascinated by your looks."

She smiled. "I like the way you look at me, but you should still let your other senses function. Now, what do you say?"

She had to repeat her question before Harry was finally able to answer. "Sure, I'll join you and your father in ten minutes. I only need to tell my aunt first."

"Fine!" Hermione kissed his cheek, took her dressing gown and faded away, still naked. Harry stayed a bit dazed for another moment, and then got dressed and went to the kitchen, where his aunt was already waiting with a warm glass of milk.

"I'm going to do my morning exercise with Hermione and her father. I'll be back in less than an hour," he told her.

"Well, tell her I want to talk with her the next time she comes here. She can stay in her dressing gown for the conversation, no need to dress more than that."

Harry nodded, wondering if she guessed what Hermione was (not) wearing, or just thinking of the attire a young girl would wear before going to bed.

Dave didn't wonder that Harry joined the morning exercise. He only asked, "Do you plan on doing this each morning?"

Harry hadn't thought of it yet, but Hermione answered in his stead. "We shall exercise with you until we visit Sirius. I'm not sure how that will go, and I'm not sure we would be able to join you then. Aren't you planning to go on a vacation this summer?"

Dave smiled. "Indeed we are. I was wondering, Harry, if you would like to come with us; maybe your relatives would also like to join us, actually."

"Where are you going?" Harry asked.

"We've not finalized our plans yet. We shall probably go to a Mediterranean resort, to enjoy some sun. The sea there is much warmer than on the British beaches."

Harry wasn't sure. "I'd like to join you, but I don't know about my relatives. My uncle seems to loathe everything that's not British. They had always taken vacations only at British resorts and they eat only British food." He noticed Dave grimace at that. "I'll ask them, though."

Not unexpectedly, his uncle shot down the offer, although his aunt seemed quite willing to accept it. "You may go, though, since you seem to be really close to that girl. You will also need a passport. I'll have to check what the procedure is," Vernon said. "I'll do it in a few days. Now, let's get ready for the road. We're taking Dudley home today."

It was the first time Harry was treated like he was really a part of the family, going with his aunt and his uncle in the car. His aunt used the long ride to update Harry with all that Dudley had written from school, although she had already told him most of it in her letters. They listened to the radio for the rest of the way. Vernon parked the car and they went into the Smelting Boarding School campus.

The students were all in the courtyard, each standing near his luggage, divided by classes. Harry had no problem finding Dudley among the first year students, being evidently the largest. He was glad to see Dudley engaged in lively conversation with some others, testifying of him making new friends. Dudley was so absorbed in his conversation that he failed to see his family approaching until Harry touched his shoulder. "Hello, big D."

Dudley turned around, his face breaking into a big smile. "Hi, little cousin. I didn't expect to see you here. How has it happened?"

"I came home yesterday. How did you do at school?"

Dudley's smile widened. "I did very well, all thanks to you. I kept reminding myself that I should make you proud of me. How did you do?"

"Quite well. Only Hermione got slightly higher grades."

Dudley laughed. "I can't say I'm surprised. She's more of a bookworm than you are."

Petunia, although glad to see how close these two had become, couldn't stay aside for long. She grabbed Dudley in a tight hug, not quite minding his protests, and then handed him to Vernon, who hugged him even tighter. Once his parents let go of him, Dudley grabbed Harry's hand and turned to his new friends. "This is my cousin Harry. He's very talented and goes to a special school that hones his talents, yet he's also a very good student and very strong, for someone with such a light build."

Harry was accepted by the other boys. He pretended to be talented in arts and none of the boys showed much interest in that subject. They were only slightly interested in a boarding school for both genders, not yet finding interest in girls. Luckily for Harry, the conversation was very short, as parents were collecting their children and heading back home, so Harry didn't have to invent many lies.

Dudley kept talking most of the way home, eager to tell about his school year, elaborating about what he thought might interest Harry, who kept prompting him for some more. Both knew that Vernon liked these stories much better than those about Harry's school. Although Vernon had lost his animosity for Harry, he was still extremely uncomfortable when magic was mentioned.

Dudley came to Harry's room soon after they arrived home. "So, how did it really go at your school? Mum told me a bit in her letters, but I'm sure she didn't tell me everything."

Harry smiled reassuringly. "It wasn't all fun, but it went really well." He then started telling all that had happened since they had last met.

Dudley sat there, listening attentively and barely believing the stories. Had he not known Harry, he would have thought these were just childish fantasies, but he knew better than that.

"Wow, man! You made them free your wrongfully imprisoned godfather and then saved a priceless artefact from an evil wizard! It makes my school experiences seem boring in comparison."

Harry shrugged. "I'm lucky to have Hermione as my closest friend. Her advice helped tremendously, and I've also made some more friends during the winter vacation, as I've already told you."

Dudley smirked. "Yes, I remember. All of them girls. Are you planning to start a harem?"

"Of course not!" Harry sounded offended. "They are all very respectable nice girls, you should know. Besides, I don't think I'd like more than one."

"And that one is named Hermione," Dudley teased him.

Harry didn't seem to notice the teasing. "I really think we're becoming much closer since we started Hogwarts."

"And it has nothing to do with your ability to spend the nights in the same bed, does it?" Dudley continued teasing.

"Well, it probably helps, but we were getting closer way before we started sharing a bed. I think I love her," Harry replied seriously.

Dudley stopped his teasing. "Aren't you both a bit young for that? I mean, we're not supposed to even like girls before reaching twelve or even thirteen."

Harry seemed pensive for a moment. "Well, fighting political and judicial battles is not something expected at our age either, nor confronting dark wizards. It may have worked to make us more mature."

Dudley looked at him pensively. "You really look more mature than during the winter break." He then smiled. "Well, we're supposed to become more mature as we grow up. It could just be that each grows a bit differently. I don't feel any need to become a grown up so soon, though. I like being the one who doesn't need to be responsible, who can do all the fun foolishness. We can get serious when we're older."

Harry smiled back. "I don't know… You see, Sirius, my godfather, is not at all like his name implies. He'd been a prankster and troublemaker during his school years, along with my father, and he explicitly stated that he wants to teach me some pranking, although he's only two or three years younger than your parents."

Dudley gasped. "Really?! I wish he could teach me some." He then gave it a bit of thought. "Or maybe not. I really need to concentrate on my studies, as I don't take to them as easily as you do. Spending time on pranks may not be the best idea, despite sounding like fun."

Harry put his hand on Dudley's shoulder. "You see, you're also growing up, thinking of more than your immediate fun. You make me proud of calling you my cousin."

"Well, I'm proud of you too. Now, what are you planning to do this summer?"

Harry shrugged. "I didn't plan anything, initially, but it looks like I'm going to join Hermione and her parent for a vacation at some Mediterranean resort. They invited the rest of the family to join, but your father declined. You know how he doesn't like anything non-British."

Dudley grimaced. "I know, and I think he's making a mistake. I tried some Asian, French and Italian food at school and found it delicious, although the Asian was a bit too spicy to eat daily."

"Sure! We occasionally have foreign food at our school and it's mostly very tasty. I'm sure they also have different customs and culture which might also be interesting."

Dudley laughed. "It looks like Hermione is rubbing off on you."

Harry didn't seem to mind. "We're spending so much time together that it's just natural. I'm sure she's also influenced by me in some ways."

"Yea, like exercising," Dudley teased lightly.

Harry turned serious. "About that – you should know that I go there each morning to exercise with her and her father. I come back on time for breakfast."

Dudley laughed lightly. "Isn't it lucky that you have your magical way to go there and back in a blink of an eye?" He didn't expect an answer, as he continued, a bit more seriously. "I'll probably not notice, since I intend to sleep much later. Are you going to exercise with me in the evenings?"

"Of course, as long as I'm here. Besides joining Hermione for a vacation, I'm also going to stay a bit with Sirius, now that he's free."

"Good for you. I'm sure Dad will take me to visit Aunt Marge, though. I think you'll have more fun."

Both chuckled. There had never been any love between Harry and the obnoxious woman, yet she seemed to like Dudley when they were smaller. As Dudley grew up, he started seeing his aunt in a more objective light and he didn't like what he saw, yet continued visiting along with his parents, just to keep the peace.

\/\/\/

Sirius came for a short visit the next day. Harry welcomed him with a tight hug. Petunia let him kiss her knuckles, as formal etiquette required. Dudley shook hands with him, not quite sure what was expected of him. Only Vernon didn't need to acknowledge the visitor, not being at home, a fact that all present considered to be for the best.

Knowing how eager Harry always was to hear about his parents, Sirius spent most of his visit talking about them. Both Petunia and Dudley seemed just as interested as Harry. Dudley had never heard much about his aunt and uncle until then, and Petunia knew very little about her sister's life after going to Hogwarts. Sirius refrained from talking about most of the Marauders' pranks, though. Looking back, these looked more like bullying than like innocent pranks, and he no longer felt proud of them. It was much easier talking about how James and Lilly turned from indifferent to rivals and then to lovers.

"Your mother, when we first saw her, seemed to be a bookworm, a know-it-all, with very high morals. Nobody understood why she stuck to her unpleasant friend whom we called Snivellus. He was a slim, dark boy with greasy hair and too large clothes who seemed to frown permanently. Besides, he committed the worst crime, as we saw it then, of being sorted to Slytherin. Your mum, with her knowledge, her quick reflexes, and her temper, seemed too formidable for us to prank, but Snivellus was a different matter, even if we had to suffer Lily's retaliation, occasionally. Yet, despite the evident enmity between them, James started to like your mother. She was very beautiful, which certainly helped, although it only became evident during our fourth year. Maybe we were just too childish to notice before."

The pensive expression on Sirius's face seemed a bit out of place on a prankster. He shook his head as if to rid himself of a nagging thought. "Anyway, as we grew up, Lilly became a real beauty and almost a force of nature. When she set her mind on something, nobody dared stay in her way, not even the teachers. And then she decided to correct our ways, and specifically, James's. This didn't go well with her old friend. Snivellus couldn't accept her becoming close to James, his rival, even if it was only in order to put James in his place and make him behave. Then, when she tried to help him after one of our pranks, he snapped and called her a 'Mudblood'. When she warned him about that word, he didn't take it back. That was the end of that friendship."

"What was that boy's real name?" Harry asked, a certain suspicion blooming in his mind.

"Severus Snape," Sirius answered, and Harry could suddenly better understand the animosity he constantly felt from Snape. "Why are you asking?" Sirius was curious.

"He's our Potions teacher," was all Harry was willing to say.