"Harry."

"Harry? Harry! Are you watching?"

A shuffling sound as covers moved, followed by a yawn. "Yeah Dud, I'm watching."

It was dark outside, as Harry watched. They should be asleep.

"Okay, three –" Harry wasn't convinced, watching as Dudley ready from atop his bed. "Two –"

This wouldn't end well.

"ONE!"

*Crash*

…Harry winced, seeing his cousin tumble to the floor.

He couldn't fly, he'd already told him that. "You okay Dud?"

A moan responded as Dudley turned himself upright. "I almost had it Harry, I could feel it!"

Dudley was convinced, of what though, Harry wasn't entirely sure. But no matter how many times Harry told him otherwise, he'd be forced to watch as Dudley tried to fly – by leaping off his bed.

Harry laughed. "But you didn't fly, you just… fell. Good job we have carpet," indeed it was, as his Aunt would say. The two of them always rough-housing, or simply being silly.

Dudley would disagree. "Flying isn't impossible, the birds do it. Why shouldn't I be able to?"

Harry didn't answer, this time rubbing his eyes. "Can I sleep now? We have school tomorrow," it was always like this. Dudley would get caught up in some idea or – silly, activity andthen, through no fault of his own, Harry would end up being silly too.

He'd already tried to fly three times, it just wasn't going to happen.

Yet Dudley… he was just different, had a hard time giving up. At least, that's what Uncle Vernon would always say.

It was a good thing, sometimes.

Dudley pressed on, climbing back to his bed with renewed vigour. "This time. This time for sure."

He could do it, he knew he could.

After all.

*Crash*

He'd already done so. At least, he'd thought he'd flown. Perhaps floated was a better word, as he'd fallen from a tree in the small woodland behind the park.

Yeah, that was it. "I'll try that, flying's not the right word," he looked to Harry, seeing his cousin wrapped up on his bed.

He looked half-asleep already.

One last go, Dudley told himself as he readied his legs, trying to focus on the feeling floating gave him.

It was like… being in the car, going over a sudden hill.

"Weightless," he muttered, before taking a deep breath.

He jumped.

"Dud!"

*Crash*

Dudley groaned, rolling on his back as Harry appeared above him. "You did it!"

Really?

"Really?"

Dudley wasn't actually sure, it was a blur… he felt tired, wanting to sleep as the door opened.

"Boys! What are you two doing!"

Uh oh, they shared a glance. "Dudley flew!" sung Harry, suddenly very awake as he helped his blonde-haired cousin up. "He had to jump, but he did it! Like a Heli-thingy," Harry couldn't quite place the name, looking to his Aunt who was not amused.

"Helicopter, I think," offered Dudley, now standing unaided by Harry's side. "They have them on the news."

"Yeah!"

Petunia sighed, leaning slightly against the door.

They were only five, and it was past nine already.

Why weren't they tired, thought Petunia. They always had so much energy, chasing after this and that. Dudley was the worst, with Harry only a little more biddable.

Time for bed. "Yes, it's Helicopter Harry and no, you can't fly Dudley. It's time for bed," she ushered them out, towards the bathroom as she tried to ignore the niggling voice in her mind.

Could Dudley fly? Could accidental… she had a hard time even thinking of the word, but alas, she couldn't escape it forever.

She shook her head, it didn't matter.

Dudley was the first to finish, enjoying the rituals of keeping clean. "I win Harry!"

Harry would have answered, if not for his Tomas the Tank Engine toothbrush. "Nu-uh, Dugley."

They laughed, they were such sweet boys.

Petunia loved them – both of them.

Over the last four years, she'd flourished as a Mother, and Vernon a father, surprisingly. She'd never doubted him of course but her friends, her parents, had been unkind about him.

She'd made sure to ignore them for a few months after.

The night time proved to be the most difficult, in the beginning.

They'd taken turns, waking in the night to settle whichever, or both, that needed attention.

Vernon was a saint, he truly was. She wouldn't be without him. "All right, off to bed! School in the morning."

That had been another adventure, taking the boys to school just over a year ago had been as exciting as it was heart-breaking – for her anyway.

They looked so cute in their uniforms, carrying their lunches as she took a photo outside their front-door. They'd walked together, the three of them, all the way to school. Vernon had work, he'd wished them luck of course, over their shared breakfast.

She loved them, and if she was being truthful, never wanted them to go.

"Night boys, sleep tight."

"Night Mum!"

She smiled, closing the door with a soft click. Harry often switched between Aunt, Aunty and Mum.

He seemed caught between technicalities.

Yes, she was his Aunt. But also, his Mother. She didn't mind one bit as she walked down the stairs and into the sitting room.

She huffed, letting Vernon know as she slipped in next to him. "What was it this time?" he asked, taking a sip of his wine as Petunia picked up the remote.

She shook her head, smiling wearily as the telly resumed. "They were trying to fly, of all things. Though Dudley seemed the most convinced of the two," they chuckled, not surprised that was the case.

The telly drew their attention as something exciting happened, a show about Doctors and Hospitals.

It was interesting, yet let the mind wonder.

After a few minutes, Vernon tilted his head. "You don't think – you know," Petunia hummed, still watching the surgery. "Could he? Fly?" asked Vernon, oddly invested.

She shrugged.

"Perhaps, who knows. From what I remember, Lily could do far more with that stick of hers." Vernon raised a brow, surprised his wife had mentioned her.

"Amazing, so that's why I don't like them."

Petunia turned to him, thinking him a little tipsy. He glanced away. "They're so much more than us."

She stopped him there, touching his hand as their eyes meeting. "You're amazing to me, Vernon. I love you," his eyes softened, squeezing her hand back.

"And I you, Petunia. And our family."

They turned back to the telly, letting the show end before heading to bed.

Break

It was Monday morning, on the following day that changed so much, that Petunia would ponder exactly how it had all happened.

The boys had set off for school, boisterous as they walked the smooth streets throughout Privet Drive. They had a few friends, who they always met along the way. A boy named Piers and another named Ted, nice boys, with proper families.

The four had made it to school, no problems, the journey a mere 15-minute walk.

Only to find the school had been closed. A fire, carnage.

The situation was in-hand, yet the staff didn't think that the children arriving might not be able to just – go back home, school's closed.

She fumed again, thinking back to what the boys had told her. There'd be penance to pay, Vernon would make sure of that.

But moving on, the boys had as anyone would expect, obeyed their teachers and gone straight to the park.

She sighed, it was a warm day. Summer in full swing as the boys arrived at the park, just after nine.

Piers knew where to find a football, having stashed one within a few bushes along the edge of the field. The woodland lay beyond that, with large Oak and Beech trees, grand with age. They liked to play there too, which they did after her boys had thoroughly thrashed the opposition 4-1.

Their goal was a fluke, ask anyone, they'd said.

Petunia worried, hoping Dumbledore would be able to explain when he arrived.

They'd entered the forest soon after, all four as they explored the woodland, enjoying themselves in the cool air. That was, until they'd found a snake, basking under an exposed section of canopy.

Piers and Ted, had naturally been scared. Here was a snake which looked about three times as long as them, with diamond patterns down its back.

Dudley had said how pretty it was. Harry too as they'd approached eagerly.

It noticed them, turning its head as the boys stopped mere feet away. Piers and Ted had stayed, looking from afar with worried eyes.

She had difficulty comprehending what happened next, but it surely wasn't normal.

It could speak, apparently.

The snake that is, her boys having enjoyed a lengthy conversation with it.

Absurd, one should reason, and yet. She believed them.

Even now as they watched TV, hissing between one another.

She really hoped Dumbledore would arrive soon.

The other boys, Piers and Ted had understandably fled soon after the strange hissing started, seemingly unable to call her boys away.

They'd been there for some time, when she finally received a call from the school, already midday by this point.

She'd panicked, frantically thinking where they could have gone when, they'd arrived home.

Carrying a snake, draped like a winter scarf between their necks.

Her screech was magnificent.

This had all led to where they were now, sitting in their living room, watching TV, with a snake.

It was nearly three now, she couldn't take the hissing anymore. It made her skin quiver, like fingernails on chalk.

She just couldn't ignore it, it was magic. She had no doubt

What was more confounding was that the boys hadn't realised they were speaking it, they still thought the snake could actually talk.

The fact Petunia had said she couldn't understand it, had been dismissed all too easily by them.

Boys, they never listen.

Knock Knock

She practically leapt from her chair, striding towards the door. "Dumbledore?"

The door opened, revealing the aged Headmaster. "Petunia, good day. How are things?"

She ushered him inside, the man smiling as he stepped on through.

He was excited to see them, had been wondering for the last four years how things were going, having not heard anything since arranging Harry's financial support.

The boys were doing well it seemed, their magic quite remarkable as he gazed upon them.

The TV drew his attention, or more the train with a face. How intriguing.

He saw the snake next.

"Oh."

Petunia moved past him, having stopped by the door's threshold. She arrived behind Dudley, carefully keeping an eye on the snake as it coiled between them. "Yes, you see the issue."

The boys peered up at them, the snake too as it coiled a little more.

Dumbledore's heart nearly stopped when Harry hissed at him. "Hello, who are you?"

Blue eyes blinked slowly, before looking deeply into Harry's eyes. "Harry?" he asked, making sure to maintain eye contact.

He wasn't trying to read his mind, more trying to make sure he replied in English.

"Yes?"

Dumbledore smiled in relief. "Hello, I am Albus Dumbledore," he glanced to Petunia. "A friend of your Aunt's."

Harry seemed to nod. Dudley too, who continued to stare ponderously at Albus. The difference in demeanour drew his attention. "You must be Dudley, my you've grown since I last saw you."

Dumbledore wasn't actually surprised, considering who his father was.

Dudley tilted his head in thought.

"Sorry… I don't remember you."

Dumbledore gasped, his eyes about to pop from his head as Dudley withdrew. "Are you alright sir?"

The aged Headmaster wilted, slumping forward as Petunia all but hissed at him. "What's happening to them?"

She'd moved closer, almost tugging the man into the kitchen as he followed slowly.

He cast another glance at the boys, seeing their attention linger, before shifting back to the TV.

"He was weird,"offered Harry.

Dudley hummed, talking normally back."Yeah, old people are like that. Dad says."

Dumbledore wanted to cry, as the kitchen door closed.

Break

Petunia made tea, at Albus's request as they sat quietly at the kitchen table. They sipped softly, each gathering their thoughts.

He was astonished, truly. For Dudley to be a Parselmouth… it couldn't be, yet it was.

Lily, he realised. And those eyes, that was the link.

Could Lily have been… no, he'd have known. In which case, perhaps Voldemort hadn't shared his power that night.

The scar, he'd thought…

Petunia huffed. "Well? What's happening to them?"

She was upset, angry and all kinds of scared.

Albus shared some of those emotions, if for different reasons.

He set his tea down. "Well, nothing is happening, to them, per se," he pursed his lips. "Yet, this is who they are it seems. What they can do."

The words were sure, certain.

Petunia frowned. "You mean, they really can speak to it? The snake?"

She was still sceptical that the snake could talk back, be understood – like a person, hardly believable.

Dumbledore nodded, somewhat agreeably. "Yes, they can speak to it. All snakes, the hissing is their language. It's very rare," he looked at her steadily, deciding what to tell her. "They are special, gifted. The ability is well-known in the Wizarding World."

Of course, he left out why exactly it was well-known. He didn't want Petunia to worry, her boys weren't evil.

Just… related, distantly, to what some would call. Dark Wizards.

He deflated, she looked so confused. "They'll be fine, Petunia. It's a gift, one they inherited."

Her eyes flickered, looking sharply at him. "Inherited? What do you mean?"

Petunia's family weren't magical, only Lily. The same for Vernon so…

"One of our ancestors?" she asked, not convinced.

Dumbledore nodded, he was without doubt. "Yes, undoubtably. The ability can only be inherited, it's in the blood. One of your ancestors was a witch or wizard, though Lily couldn't speak it."

He was confidant in that fact, even if it was always possible she had just never discovered it. Riddle had said the snakes had found him, sought him out in that awful orphanage. "Have you noticed any snakes near them before? Near the house, or perhaps odd behaviour from them? At a Zoo?"

Petunia looked away, pondering as she glanced towards the conservatory windows, and the garden beyond.

She tutted, not happy with the lack of rain. "Yes, now that you mention it. The garden, there are often snakes basking in the sun. Almost every morning," she squinted, trying to remember. "It started, maybe two years ago."

Dumbledore hummed.

Interesting, he thought. Not from birth then. "Have they displayed any accidental magic yet?"

"I don't thi-"

She stopped, slumping tiredly as she ran a hand through her blonde air. "Possibly, Dudley is always caught up in ideas. Things he can do, or did, or should be able to."

Petunia had wondered, but boys will be boys.

"What ideas?"

"Silly things," she said. "Thinking he can move things with his mind, make things float like Star Wars," she smiled, remembering the day he's supposedly thrown a stick without touching it. "Thinking he can fly, just last night actually. He and Harry were playing, jumping off their beds. Harry swore he'd… he actually did?"

She was stupefied, as was Dumbledore. "Harry said he flew? Did you see it?"

Dumbledore hardly believed, controlling magic at five? Out of the question.

Accidental magic, sure. But not through a child's own volition.

Petunia shook her head, she hadn't seen any of it. "No, I saw nothing. But there must be some truth to it?"

Perhaps, thought Dumbledore. But one couldn't be sure. "I think it best we wait and see, even if he can do these things, it's not cause for concern."

He hoped.

They moved away from the topic of magic after that, settling on how they were doing. How they'd grown, what they liked, how they behaved. Things like that.

There was nothing amiss, even after Albus subtly checked the truth with passive Legitimancy.

Harry and Dudley were healthy, happy and forgiving five-year-olds.

Excellent news, in Albus's opinion as the afternoon drew to a close. Time to head off as Albus finished his tea. "I'll better be off now, thank you for the tea Petunia."

She nodded. "Thank you for coming so quickly," she said, grateful she led the way, opening the doors.

Harry and Dudley were watching something different now, a show about giant robots. Albus had no idea, keen to leave and ruminate on everything.

He said his goodbyes. "Goodbye Harry, Dudley. Enjoy the good weather!"

They waved, with Dudley turning to face him. "Goodbye," he said, looking up at the man.

Their eyes met naturally, but then, something strange happened.

Dumbledore jolted, blinking as the pair swayed a little.

They both looked confused.

Petunia saved the day. "Headmaster? Are you alright?"

Albus straightened, nodding with a forced smile. "Of course, just lost my step," he walked into the hall, frowning heavily.

This was concerning. "Here, let me get the door for you."

"Thank you, if you need anything else –"

"I'll let you know."

Petunia actually smiled as Albus stepped through, glad he'd come as he seemed to disappear from view shortly after.

Dudley watched from the window.

That had stumped him. What had happened, he wondered.

He'd been thinking, wanting to know what they'd discussed. He'd have asked, but it didn't feel right so… he'd looked at the old man.

He really wanted to know.

Normally it worked, he'd know right after, somehow.

But not this time. This time, he'd hit a wall – somewhat literally as he rubbed his head.

He'd tell Harry later, perhaps he'd had the same.

"Boys, come into the kitchen please and…" Dudley followed her gaze. "Put that snake outside."

She left no room for argument, so together they picked Nigel up and carried him carefully to the grass outside.

Harry hissed a goodbye, hurrying in as Dudley lingered, watching as Nigel coiled in the grass.

"Will you come tomorrow?" hissed Dudley. "I still have questions."

Nigel began to uncoil, moving away in a smooth sway. "Of course, master."

The Grass Snake knew many things, things about Magic and Wizards, that Dudley hadn't believed it, nor Harry at first.

But, it all made sense now, thought Dudley as he watched his new friend slither away.

Break.

Supper was oddly tense that night, at least to Dudley as he and Harry finished their meal. They'd been sent to their room once Vernon was home, told not to roughhouse – not tonight.

"Dudley, do you think Nigel will come back?" asked Harry, sitting on the floor across from his cousin.

They'd made a Lego castle, magnificent. "Yeah, I asked him. He said he would," Dudley took another piece, finishing a tower. "Called me Master too."

"Cool."

They shared a glance, shrugging before resuming their work. "Will Dad be mad?"

Dudley shook his head. "Nah, he'll blame the school. Not us," Harry didn't like upsetting people, let alone Vernon.

"That's good," they laughed, the castle was done as Dudley stood, stretching before hopping onto his bed. He wanted to try something.

He thought of Nigel.

"Harry?"

The sound didn't seem wrong, to him he'd said Harry, just… differently, maybe. It was hard to tell as Harry glanced up at him.

He wasn't quite done with the castle. "Yeah?"

There it was, it meant the same but felt different. "Do I sound different? My voice, I mean."

Harry scrunched his face, tilting up at Dudley. "No, not really."

"Really? It doesn't feel… different?"

Dudley scrunched the duvet beneath his hands.

"You sure?"

Harry hissed again. "Well, maybe a bit different. Sort of, like we're humming. As we speak," Harry didn't appear convinced, turning back as he twiddled a Lego brick between his fingers.

Dudley nodded, thinking that sounded right. "Mum said snakes can't speak, that she didn't understand."

The two boys sat silently, thinking it through.

Only they could talk to Nigel, to snakes.

Nigel had said they were different, had Magic and were –

"Wizards, Harry. We must be wizards. Nigel was right."

Harry looked worried. "Are you sure Dud? I mean, Nigel is a snake."

Hmm, he did have a point, thought Dudley. Nigel was a snake, how should an animal know?

But it wasn't Nigel that made him believe, it was Dumbledore. The man felt different to Dudley, he could feel it, something about him felt different.

Harry too, looking again as his cousin resumed their work. "What about Dumbledore? He wasn't like other old people," said Dudley. "Well, apart from the weird part."

Harry chuckled, finding room for more bricks.

Then Dudley remembered what had happened when he'd left, meeting the man's gaze. "Harry, did you look at Dumbledore when he left? At his eyes?"

He hoped Harry had, he was sure they'd already talked about knowing things before.

Harry shook his head, taking his time to answer. "Are you talking about him tripping? What's that got to do with it?"

Dudley sighed, feeling the need to scratch his head. "I wanted to know what they'd talked about, you know how I've said before…"

Harry nodded, though evidently still sceptical of the previous times.

Dudley pushed on.

"Well, it felt the same. The same during lessons when I know the answer, almost as if the Teacher had told me. You had it too right?"

His felt a little strained, feeling more so as Harry rolled his eyes.

This time, Harry was sure. "No Dud, I've never had that. Sometimes I just remember the answer, at the last minute," he felt guilty, seeing his cousins' green eyes droop.

Harry knew Dudley was telling the truth, they rarely lied about anything and if they did, it was a poor one.

Something silly, no doubt.

"Try it," instructed Dudley, thinking of a number. "What number am I thinking of?"

Harry sighed, laughing a little as Dudley stared at him, his eyes wide open. "Come on Harry, look into my eyes."

They laughed together, his cousin was being silly as Harry resignedly met his gaze.

"Are you trying?"

"Yeah Dud."

Neither spoke as they stared at each other's eyes, the need to blink beginning to strain the young boys.

"Six?"

Dudley slumped.

Harry sighed, now thinking Dudley should try. "Try on me, maybe you did just remember the answer."

Harry thought of a number and as before, copied Dudley's wide-eyed expression.

They tried not to laugh as Dudley looked into his cousin's eyes.

"Six."

Dudley frowned. "You copied my number!"

Harry would have been affronted, if he'd known the word. "So? There aren't that many numbers."

Dudley laughed, giggling as his cousin smiled.

He'd played a joke on him.

"You were right though, Dud. It was six. What about now?"

Again, Harry adopted the look as Dudley regained his breath.

"13."

Harry blinked, scowling. "Now?"

"50."

"51."

"62."

"766."

Harry was shocked, as was Dudley as they stared at each other.

"Can you teach me?"

Dudley huffed, watching as his cousin limbered to his feet.

"Fine, but you'll owe me."

Harry nodded, gesturing as if that was a given.

"So, how d –"

The door opened.

"Time for bed boys, an early night tonight."

They groaned, of course it was as they followed Petunia out.

AN

Hope you're enjoying it! Check out my profile for my Naruto story too!

Thanks!