Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me, but a future O/C does.
Warning: This is eventually slash, if you don't like it, don't read it. Don't bitch at me because of it.
Chapter 3 – Changes
At about ten thirty, Harry heard a knock on his door. He was reviewing his fourth year Potions material, as he had found it useful to read over his old textbooks. He discovered basic terms and information and cemented it more firmly into his mind than he had done at school. Interrupted from his work, Harry looked up in annoyance. "Come in," he said a little sharply.
The door opened to reveal Dudley dressed in loose black pants and a sleeveless red shirt that showed his now muscular arms. He pulled on his second black fingerless glove, and flexed his hands.
"Er – mum said you wanted to ask me something," Harry's cousin said hesitantly.
"Yeah," Harry replied and paused, unsure of how to phrase his request. Ultimately he just blurted it out. "CouldIuseyourequipment?"
"What?" Dudley asked, his forehead creased in confusion.
Harry took a deep breath and repeated his question. "Could I maybe use your gym equipment? To, you know, work out."
Dudley gave a small smile. "Well, what else would you use it for?" He asked rhetorically. Harry shrugged and his face warmed. Dudley thought about it for a minute before replying, "Sure. I could show you how to use it now, if you like." Harry smiled slowly and nodded before jumping off of his bed.
"Are you going to wear that?" frowned Dudley, waving at Harry's baggy jeans and over-large gray t-shirt.
"Er – I don't really have anything else besides things like this," the smaller boy confessed. "Is it a problem?" Dudley shook his head.
"Not for now, but you may want to find some new clothes sometime soon. Maybe you can ask Mum to buy you some next time she goes to London..."
"I have money," Harry interrupted. "I'll just ask if I can go with her. I need some new clothes, anyway." Dudley nodded and Harry followed him into the basement.
They spent the next hour going over the equipment and what types of excercises Harry could do. Dudley had him do a few sets on each machine. The last thing Harry's cousin taught him how to use was the punching bag, which was trickier than Harry expected it to be. They spent the longest on that while Dudley showed him footwork and different combinations to try. "The punching bag is my favorite thing to use in here," Dudley told Harry. "It's a great way to work out agression."
By the time they were through, Harry was soaked with sweat. His t- shirt was much darker on his chest and underneath his arms in particular. It was only quarter to twelve but Harry was exhausted. "You won't be so tired after you start building up some muscle and your stamina," Dudley explained when they were in the kitchen drinking glasses of water. "That was a relatively mild work out. Don't worry, you'll be able to see and feel the difference in a few weeks." Harry nodded his understanding and rolled his shoulders. "Should we work out a schedule or will we use the gym at the same time?" Harry wanted to know.
"Different times would be best. How about you go at eight thirty or so and I'll go at eleven, seeing as Dad has you up anyway?" Dudley suggested gingerly. Harry considered the idea and nodded. "Fine by me."
They went their separate ways after that. Harry had yard work to do as he always did on Tuesdays and Saturdays, it being the former. Dudley went back to his room. His cousin waved at him when Harry saw him leave with some of his friends a little later on.
Aunt Petunia was up about an hour before Vernon was due home. She smiled and greeted Harry before she set about cleaning and cooking in the kitchen. Remembering what Dudley had said about clothes, he approached her timidly. "Aunt Petunia?"
"Yes, Harry?" she asked and turned to her nephew in surprise. She still had faint bags under her eyes, though she appeared less tired. "Could I go with you next time you go into London?" he asked, fiddling with the hem of his t-shirt as he always did when he was nervous. He forced himself to put his hands by his sides and keep them still. She smiled at him. "Of course you may. I was planning to go Thursday afternoon, is that alright?" "That's fine," he assured her. "Thank you." "Oh, it's no trouble. I don't mind at all, she told him, waving a hand. He smiled at her before returning to his room.
Harry was pleased to see that Hedwig had returned. Flourish and Blott's had sent a note informing him that they would owl him his books in the next few days. Harry quickly scribbled a note to Gringotts asking for some Muggle money by Thursday. He gave Hedwig several owl treats along with some water and tied the note to her leg. "Sorry, girl, for sending you out so soon again," he apologized, stroking her soft pure white feathers. She hooted softly in forgiveness before taking flight once more from his windowsill.
He managed to finish his fourth year Potions textbook before his aunt called him down for supper. Wary of Uncle Vernon, Harry descended the stairs and entered the kitchen to find four places set at the table instead of the customary three. Vernon entered a minute later. When he saw the table, his brow furrowed. "Petunia d-dear, are we having c-company?" he asked, unable to believe his eyes.
"No," Aunt Petunia told him firmly. "Harry is eating with us tonight."
"B-but..."
"No buts, dear. Enough is enough. Harry may be a wizard –" Vernon flinched, "but he is still family. Lily may have been a witch –" again Vernon flinched, "but she was still my sister. From now on, we will treat him as our flesh and blood ought to be treated." Harry started at his aunt as Vernon paled then turned an ugly shade of mauve. Petunia held his gaze, never wavering for an instant. "Fine," Vernon gritted out before sitting down at the table.
"Well, don't just stand there, Harry," Petunia said kindly as she took a seat. "Sit." Vernon glaring at him all the while, Harry sat. Dudley was already at the table and looked like he was trying very hard not to laugh. The meal was a quiet one. Vernon did not speak at all, merely ate and glowered, and Harry did not have the faintest idea of what to say. Petunia asked both Harry and Dudley various questions on their activities during the day. Vernon only grunted when she announced that she felt much better.
Near the end of the meal, Aunt Petunia told Dudley that Harry and her were going to London the day after next and whether he would like to come along. Vernon made a chocking noise but his wife ignored him. Dudley shrugged nonchalantly. "No, I don't think so. I'm supposed to go over Pier's house," he explained. "Well, do you need anything?" she asked her son. "No, mum, I'm fine." She nodded and asked him, "Would you wash the dishes, Dudley? Harry can clear the table."
They both nodded and Dudley went to the sink. As Harry began to clear the table, Vernon hissed at him, "What have you done to my wife?" Harry stared at him, shocked, then outraged. "Don't be ridiculous, I didn't do anything," he hissed right back. Vernon glared, his face beginning to redden. "Don't give me that! You with your damn freakishness –"
"Stop it, Vernon," Petunia said sharply. "I'm not under any kind of spell. I've been thinking about we've been treating Harry his whole life since last summer. What drove it home was our talk with Harry's friends at the train station. I was ashamed at how they who were stranger to Harry for the first ten years of his life defended him and protected him more than his own family, Vernon! And you should be ashamed as well. Yes, Harry's a wizard, but he is a boy as well. He's still just a boy." Vernon glared at his wife. His mouth a thin, tight line he stood and walked out of the kitchen.
"You didn't have to do that," Harry said awkwardly, fiddling with the hem of his shirt. "Nonsense. It's high time we started treating you right, and he needs to realize that. Now, finish clearing off the table and you can go on back to your room if you like." Harry obeyed silently. When he was alone once more in his room, he went over the day's events in his head. Serves him right, he thought to himself as he remembered Petunia's scolding. His mind whirling, he turned his attention to his studies. A few hours later he drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep for the first time that summer.
Please review, so that I have incentive to finish this story. Helpful critiques are encouraged, flames just bring down my self-esteem.
Warning: This is eventually slash, if you don't like it, don't read it. Don't bitch at me because of it.
Chapter 3 – Changes
At about ten thirty, Harry heard a knock on his door. He was reviewing his fourth year Potions material, as he had found it useful to read over his old textbooks. He discovered basic terms and information and cemented it more firmly into his mind than he had done at school. Interrupted from his work, Harry looked up in annoyance. "Come in," he said a little sharply.
The door opened to reveal Dudley dressed in loose black pants and a sleeveless red shirt that showed his now muscular arms. He pulled on his second black fingerless glove, and flexed his hands.
"Er – mum said you wanted to ask me something," Harry's cousin said hesitantly.
"Yeah," Harry replied and paused, unsure of how to phrase his request. Ultimately he just blurted it out. "CouldIuseyourequipment?"
"What?" Dudley asked, his forehead creased in confusion.
Harry took a deep breath and repeated his question. "Could I maybe use your gym equipment? To, you know, work out."
Dudley gave a small smile. "Well, what else would you use it for?" He asked rhetorically. Harry shrugged and his face warmed. Dudley thought about it for a minute before replying, "Sure. I could show you how to use it now, if you like." Harry smiled slowly and nodded before jumping off of his bed.
"Are you going to wear that?" frowned Dudley, waving at Harry's baggy jeans and over-large gray t-shirt.
"Er – I don't really have anything else besides things like this," the smaller boy confessed. "Is it a problem?" Dudley shook his head.
"Not for now, but you may want to find some new clothes sometime soon. Maybe you can ask Mum to buy you some next time she goes to London..."
"I have money," Harry interrupted. "I'll just ask if I can go with her. I need some new clothes, anyway." Dudley nodded and Harry followed him into the basement.
They spent the next hour going over the equipment and what types of excercises Harry could do. Dudley had him do a few sets on each machine. The last thing Harry's cousin taught him how to use was the punching bag, which was trickier than Harry expected it to be. They spent the longest on that while Dudley showed him footwork and different combinations to try. "The punching bag is my favorite thing to use in here," Dudley told Harry. "It's a great way to work out agression."
By the time they were through, Harry was soaked with sweat. His t- shirt was much darker on his chest and underneath his arms in particular. It was only quarter to twelve but Harry was exhausted. "You won't be so tired after you start building up some muscle and your stamina," Dudley explained when they were in the kitchen drinking glasses of water. "That was a relatively mild work out. Don't worry, you'll be able to see and feel the difference in a few weeks." Harry nodded his understanding and rolled his shoulders. "Should we work out a schedule or will we use the gym at the same time?" Harry wanted to know.
"Different times would be best. How about you go at eight thirty or so and I'll go at eleven, seeing as Dad has you up anyway?" Dudley suggested gingerly. Harry considered the idea and nodded. "Fine by me."
They went their separate ways after that. Harry had yard work to do as he always did on Tuesdays and Saturdays, it being the former. Dudley went back to his room. His cousin waved at him when Harry saw him leave with some of his friends a little later on.
Aunt Petunia was up about an hour before Vernon was due home. She smiled and greeted Harry before she set about cleaning and cooking in the kitchen. Remembering what Dudley had said about clothes, he approached her timidly. "Aunt Petunia?"
"Yes, Harry?" she asked and turned to her nephew in surprise. She still had faint bags under her eyes, though she appeared less tired. "Could I go with you next time you go into London?" he asked, fiddling with the hem of his t-shirt as he always did when he was nervous. He forced himself to put his hands by his sides and keep them still. She smiled at him. "Of course you may. I was planning to go Thursday afternoon, is that alright?" "That's fine," he assured her. "Thank you." "Oh, it's no trouble. I don't mind at all, she told him, waving a hand. He smiled at her before returning to his room.
Harry was pleased to see that Hedwig had returned. Flourish and Blott's had sent a note informing him that they would owl him his books in the next few days. Harry quickly scribbled a note to Gringotts asking for some Muggle money by Thursday. He gave Hedwig several owl treats along with some water and tied the note to her leg. "Sorry, girl, for sending you out so soon again," he apologized, stroking her soft pure white feathers. She hooted softly in forgiveness before taking flight once more from his windowsill.
He managed to finish his fourth year Potions textbook before his aunt called him down for supper. Wary of Uncle Vernon, Harry descended the stairs and entered the kitchen to find four places set at the table instead of the customary three. Vernon entered a minute later. When he saw the table, his brow furrowed. "Petunia d-dear, are we having c-company?" he asked, unable to believe his eyes.
"No," Aunt Petunia told him firmly. "Harry is eating with us tonight."
"B-but..."
"No buts, dear. Enough is enough. Harry may be a wizard –" Vernon flinched, "but he is still family. Lily may have been a witch –" again Vernon flinched, "but she was still my sister. From now on, we will treat him as our flesh and blood ought to be treated." Harry started at his aunt as Vernon paled then turned an ugly shade of mauve. Petunia held his gaze, never wavering for an instant. "Fine," Vernon gritted out before sitting down at the table.
"Well, don't just stand there, Harry," Petunia said kindly as she took a seat. "Sit." Vernon glaring at him all the while, Harry sat. Dudley was already at the table and looked like he was trying very hard not to laugh. The meal was a quiet one. Vernon did not speak at all, merely ate and glowered, and Harry did not have the faintest idea of what to say. Petunia asked both Harry and Dudley various questions on their activities during the day. Vernon only grunted when she announced that she felt much better.
Near the end of the meal, Aunt Petunia told Dudley that Harry and her were going to London the day after next and whether he would like to come along. Vernon made a chocking noise but his wife ignored him. Dudley shrugged nonchalantly. "No, I don't think so. I'm supposed to go over Pier's house," he explained. "Well, do you need anything?" she asked her son. "No, mum, I'm fine." She nodded and asked him, "Would you wash the dishes, Dudley? Harry can clear the table."
They both nodded and Dudley went to the sink. As Harry began to clear the table, Vernon hissed at him, "What have you done to my wife?" Harry stared at him, shocked, then outraged. "Don't be ridiculous, I didn't do anything," he hissed right back. Vernon glared, his face beginning to redden. "Don't give me that! You with your damn freakishness –"
"Stop it, Vernon," Petunia said sharply. "I'm not under any kind of spell. I've been thinking about we've been treating Harry his whole life since last summer. What drove it home was our talk with Harry's friends at the train station. I was ashamed at how they who were stranger to Harry for the first ten years of his life defended him and protected him more than his own family, Vernon! And you should be ashamed as well. Yes, Harry's a wizard, but he is a boy as well. He's still just a boy." Vernon glared at his wife. His mouth a thin, tight line he stood and walked out of the kitchen.
"You didn't have to do that," Harry said awkwardly, fiddling with the hem of his shirt. "Nonsense. It's high time we started treating you right, and he needs to realize that. Now, finish clearing off the table and you can go on back to your room if you like." Harry obeyed silently. When he was alone once more in his room, he went over the day's events in his head. Serves him right, he thought to himself as he remembered Petunia's scolding. His mind whirling, he turned his attention to his studies. A few hours later he drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep for the first time that summer.
Please review, so that I have incentive to finish this story. Helpful critiques are encouraged, flames just bring down my self-esteem.