Chapter 23: Moving on
A year has passed.
It was the strangest and longest year Holly had so far.
Many changes have crept down on the Dursley family. For example Auntie Petunia had become a completely different person. In fact, it was hard to imagine the once rude, but also cheerful woman who cared so deeply about her son. She had become a shell of sorts- at first there were many arguments and outbursts with uncle Vernon but they all gradually diminished until all that auntie did was sit in Dudley's room and cry. It was obvious that the death of her child had hit her hard- harder than one might think.
She had even moved into Dudley's room- she no longer slept in the master bedroom and she barely came down in the kitchen (when they were able to persuade her to eat). One would say that a ghost haunted their house- and they wouldn't really be that wrong since auntie's complexion wasn't that far off from a ghost.
But uncle Vernon had changed from worse to… better. After the depression had finally subsided, he simply got up one day and decided to start running around their house- much to Holly's and Mrs. Figg's astonishment. He had started to work, run and strain himself for more. His company had become more famous among the business world- he still had a long way to go but he was reaching that path with confident footsteps.
In reality Holly knew exactly why it was time for such an abrupt change. Uncle Vernon pushed himself to his limits only so he could avoid the startling, harsh reality back home. At least that's how Mrs. Figg explained it to her. And for Holly, it partly made sense.
But despite this, Holly had finally made a true friend. Or even (dare she say it) got a decent parent.
She didn't know how or when it exactly happened, but months after Dudley's death, one night when she was drawing on a piece of paper on the floor after finishing the dishes, uncle Vernon had startled her when he suddenly came into the living room, sat down and watched her draw in silence.
At first she had stiffened with panic- she was sure he was watching TV in his room, so she thought it was safe to draw slightly when the coast was clear. Bluntly stated, with Dudley gone, Holly couldn't resist without somehow entertaining herself. So the first thoughts that popped into her head was: 'Yelling, kicking, punishment.' So he had surprised her with a light and soft question of: "What are you drawing?"
And that was how their fragile friendship began. It grew slightly by the weeks and days that passed; they talked, (after Holly's fear had subsided slightly to not stutter anymore) went to the park, even played and recently ate ice-cream together. Mrs. Figg was astonished, auntie was completely oblivious and Holly was…happy.
For the first time in years, she was looking forward to her birthday.