Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Quick A/N: I know originally I planned on updating every two weeks, but when I made that promise I was heading into my first attempt at online college. I won't lie, I spent approximately 4-5 hours a night after work doing school work. I did not expect online college to be this crazy for me. I have some downtime between now and the next classes in late January, so I'll try to get out a few chapters between then. Other than that, I will commit to at least one chapter a month. Happy New Year!

The boys reminisced for the latter half of the evening, laughing and telling jokes. Harry was fascinated by the sudden connection he had for his cousin, and realized that this was the best thing that could have happened.

"And so, as I'm racing towards the goal, Peters pops up and WHAM! I'm out. I woke up two days later in the infirm still clutching the quaffle."

"That's amazing." Harry said as he leaned back against the wall.

They were both sitting on the floor facing each other and had talked for most of the evening. The clock was close to midnight, and Harry was beginning to nod lightly as their laughter was roaring down.

Knock Knock

Both boys turned to the door. Aunt Petunia opened it lightly and smiled.

"Can you both come downstairs for a moment?"

She closed the door quickly and never bothered for an answer.

The boys glanced at each other briefly, but followed behind. The hallway and stairs were completely dark, and Harry felt Douglas grab his shirt.

"Mom?"

"Aunt Petunia?"

No answer. They moved slowly down the stairs. Fear began to permeate Harry's senses. What was happening? They made it to the bottom, but Harry put his hand up to signal for Douglas to stop.

"Aunt Petunia?"

Still silence. Harry turned towards the front room and took a step.

BOOM!

Harry fell back and shielded his face. A bright red light engulfed his cousin and himself.

"Happy Birthday!" Harry heard his aunt saw loudly.

Moving his hand away Harry saw the red light was indeed fireworks. They were the same fireworks he had seen that morning earlier when this whole ordeal began. Small flames bursting in the air, bouncing outwards towards Harry and Douglas.

"My word." Said Douglas as he walked through the room.

"It's… It's amazing." Harry said.

The fireworks were booming in every direction, and from the cake on the center table Harry saw the unimaginable. A lion had burst forth from the cake and began to roar and run around the room. Harry and Douglas were ecstatic.

Petunia smiled in the corner as the two boys ran alongside the lion and fireworks, laughing and jumping through.

"This is amazing!" Douglas said as he reached out and touched the fireworks.

"It really is." Harry said as he did the same.

The fireworks were cool to the touch, almost like sand that had been hidden in the shade. Harry smiled as he turned to the cake then, curiosity beaming.

It was then, for a moment, Harry felt his voice lump in his throat and tears brim his eyes. He, himself, had a Duddy-Pie. His pie, however, was different. His face, while painted in frosting, moved like one of the enchanted pictures. He watched his face go from a smiling toddler, to him now. He didn't know when it started, but soon he felt the tears flowing down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry, Harry." Petunia said as she placed both of her hands on his shoulders, squeezing lightly.

Harry had no words. No thank you, no forgiveness, nothing. This meant so much and so little at the same time. This was her attempt at a peace for a miserable existence. He wiped the tears from his cheeks. He would allow her this moment. He had too. He was no one to dwell on nightmares, and if this meant he would have the magical upbringing his mother envisioned for them he would allow it. While he may not be able to forgive her today, tomorrow, or even a week from now, he could tell it was coming. He could feel the small grain of love beginning to surface, and he wanted to welcome it.

At one time, he had no one, now it seemed he had a family.

Morning came early for Harry, and he found himself groggily waking in a stupor. Him and Douglas had gorged themselves on cake and had ample amounts of fun dancing and laughing through the fireworks. Petunia had allowed them to stay up late as she lounged in the over-stuffed chair and enjoyed their merriment. She had given Harry a new set of quidditch robes and a book entitled, "Potions and the Dark Arts, A Dangerous Brew".

He had questioned her briefly on the book, but she had promised they would look at it together once the term started. It was not a new book by any means, and it seemed as if there was something needed to open it. Harry did not dwell on it long, but was determined to look at it further.

He walked to his small balcony, pushing the door open and allowing the cool morning breeze to settle in. Hedwig had nestled herself on the corner of the balcony in a small enclosure built for owls. He pondered briefly what he was going to write to Ron and Hermoine. Surely Ron must know about the situation, his father was here, but what about Hermoine? What would he tell her? He sighed briefly as he walked to his desk and grabbed a piece of parchment.

Hermoine,

Thank you for the birthday gifts. I have some news for you. It's actually unbelievable.

He paused. How much should he say?

It turns out, I'm not the only wizard. My aunt has been a witch this whole time, and my cousin Dudley is actually not a muggle at all. He's a wizard too. I have so much to tell you. I wish we could just meet in person.

To be honest, I'm angry and happy at the same time. I don't know how to handle this. Like I said before, it would be loads easier to talk about in person.

We'll be going to school together now, and Aunt Petunia took a position at Hogwarts, so she'll be there too.

Well I'll talk to you later.

Harry

He brought the quill to his cheek and rested it there gently. Was this enough to get his point across? Deciding it was sufficient he wrapped the parchment and tied it to Hedwig.

"Thank you, girl." He said as she flew off.

"Harry?"

He turned towards the door. Douglas was already making his way inside, fully dressed.

"Mum said hurry up. We're going to Diagon Alley!"

Harry had no sooner gotten ready when Petunia hollered for him and his cousin to come downstairs.

"Boys, we must be going. We have appointments to keep."

They arrived to the entrance of Diagon Alley in no extraordinary way; simply by car. Harry thought for a moment, though, briefly, he had seen a double decker bus squeezing between two other, but as soon as he saw it, it was gone.

He pondered briefly whether or not to bring it up, but found that even in the wizarding world, seeing illusions may well still be considered crazy.

The leaky cauldron was empty, all except for the barkeep. He nodded as Petunia and the boys past, not noticing the boy who lived. Harry felt his heart flutter. Was this what it meant to be part of a family? Simply moving through with no notice?

Petunia had donned robes, and had encouraged the boys to do so as well. It was weird, Harry thought, seeing her in the green emerald robe, shimmering in the glow of the candles. Douglas and he had put on basic black robes, and he pondered briefly if they had underdressed and were heading somewhere fancy. Staring ahead at the brick wall Harry could not help but catch his breath when he watched his aunt open the door to Diagon Alley