Harry was playing with the cards again, Petunia noted. He was getting good with shuffling the cards that strangers would believe that his parent was a card dealer in a casino should they not know him. Petunia allowed Harry's hair to grow long to cover his forehead so people won't gawk every time they take a walk into the village. It has been a week since she moved in and life was slowly coming into a rhyme with routines.

Dudley was still having a hard time transitioning as a proper boy who needs to learn proper etiquette and common courtesy but Petunia has long suspected that it will be an uphill battle from what he was used to under Vernon's tutelage. He knew that his father was a bad influence but habit was habit and it was hard coming out from the norm that he has known. He still throws tantrums and demand instead of asking. He still screams at the top of his lung when she says 'no' and all the bad behaviour that Vernon encouraged since baby. He's been improving but it will still take a few years to shed off all the bad behaviour.

As for Harry, though he loves his room she still found him by the door of the utilities cupboard every morning, curled into a tiny tight ball. She had asked Albus about it and he in turn had asked for Poppy's opinion. She suggested being patient with the boy. He has been growing in a cupboard and a whole room for himself, despite looking like his sanctuary from the cruel reality that was his life; it might be overwhelming for the boy at times. So she suggested for Petunia to always take him back to his room so he will wake up and be familiar to the sight of his room until he no longer seek the familiar cupboard.

Harry, unlike Dudley, was taught manner by Alice in his dream but at the same time he has never had a normal influence like actual human contact and interaction. Dudley did try to be a good cousin but at times he fell back on his bullying style especially when it comes to toy or food and Harry won't defend himself but stared at his cousin with sad eyes until Dudley realised his wrong doing or until Petunia set him right again.

It was somewhat overwhelming for the lone mother at times when a friendly witch who just came back from studying abroad came across her during her grocery shopping. Dudley was staring at Honeyduke's candies and treats while Harry was standing silently by her, gripping tightly to her frock as she chose her vegetables. She has decided to go for the healthier but just as tasty recipes for Dudley and the more carb heavy for Harry since he still has to take his nutrient potions with every meal to catch up on his malnourishment from three years of almost neglect.

Petunia tried to be a good neighbour but the wizards and witches of the area was a little suspicious of the Muggle woman staying at the Shrieking Shack though some of them become friendly when they saw some of the professors working at Hogwarts visits her. The grocery owner was one such people as he often gave her extras without charging it, saying that it must be hard for a single mother like her. There were rumours down the street that the handsome wizard was looking toward courting for her hand.

Petunia smiled at the wizard, "Thank you, Joseph,"

Joseph shrugged, "Anytime, Petunia,"

She sighed as she left the grocer, feeling a little awkward after overhearing the reason behind his kindness toward her, though she hoped they weren't true…

"Well, aren't she's the most adorable little thing you ever set eyes on?"

The cooing middle age witch bend over to see Harry better. The boy blinked and looked at his aunt and Petunia giggled, "He's a boy, actually,"

The witch gasped, "Truly?! Why, I can't even tell!" She then smiled, "He'll definitely grow up to be a heartbreaker,"

Petunia sighed, "Oh, do I dread that day,"

The two women shared a small laughter and from there, friendship bloomed. The witch's name was Charity Burbage, who just came back from her study in the Muggle world where she immersed herself in Muggle Study. She was most delighted to find a Muggle living in an all-Wizarding village, saying that it certainly breaks the monotony of life around the area. She confessed to be apprenticing underneath the current Muggle Study professor at Hogwarts who planned to resign for a different job and by apprenticing under him, she'll allow herself to be at ease when she finally get the position. After all, the wizard in question has never been that keen about Muggle Study.

Since then, she will often come over for tea by the Shrieking Shack which name has been kept by Petunia since it'll be too much of a hassle for everyone else to remember since it was known as the shack for such a long time. Petunia kept busy by making sure the house was in order though once in a while she does accept the help that Hogwarts House Elves offer whenever they came over with packages or items from Hogwarts' staff members who cared for her.

Poppy was second to Charity's constant visit, due to her busy life as the school's only reliable Healer though she did mention that she was informally apprenticing Severus to be her understudy in case she can't be there when there's patients. Since the information about Prof Snape being the backup Healer somehow leaked, students has been working hard to make sure that they don't even get a paper cut. Poppy doesn't know if she should jump for joy or frown.

Poppy's main reason for coming over was to oversee Harry's progress. The boy was still smaller than a normal four years old but at the very least he was gaining weight. At the same time she has session with Dudley to make sure that the boy doesn't suffer from mental breakdown or relapse. She also has therapy session with Petunia so that the woman can get over her childhood issues with Lily and the marital abuse she had to go through.

It was during one of these sessions that the question about her home economy comes to mind. Poppy had frowned when she worried about it, "Don't tell me you don't know?"

Petunia blinked at her owlishly with sudden confusion, "Know what?"

Poppy had then discussed with Albus regarding Harry's inheritance and the money he has been giving the Dursley for Harry's necessity. Petunia paled when Albus came over to point it out to her, shaking her head, "I received no stipend. Back then, all money matters were handled by Vernon…" Her eyes widened with realisation, "Oh God…"

Albus lowered his head, "I should have suspected…"

Petunia panicked, "Oh God, how am I supposed to pay you back? I don't even-!"

Albus raised his hands, "Calm down, my dear. There is no reason for you to pay me back. Even if you are rich, I won't ask for it. What's done is done. Let us hope that it does not repeat," He then looked at Harry who sat staring at the bouncing crystal balls on his ocean blue robe, "Harry's father, James Potter, came from old blood and old money. His family was one of the riches in Britain Wizarding world though not as rich as the Malfoys or Blacks. They were generations of law enforcers in the Magical World, so the family have been living a stable if not luxurious life through the ages,"

Petunia gaped at the revelation, "My sister actually married money,"

Albus chuckled, "Though crudely put, I could not blame you for seeing it that way. Anyway," He stroked his beard as a contemplative look clouded his eyes, "It never seemed right to me because Lily has been a fiercely independent woman with a very vivid vision of what she wants in life. To marry into an old family steeped deep in tradition and one where the woman was expected to care for the family and home instead of having an actual carrier…doesn't it seem…off to you?"

He then shrugged, "Oh well, my colleagues insisted that they marry for love and being in a time of unrest, to marry as soon as they leave school was not unheard of," He then smiled, "But then again…she could have done it for reason we could never unearth," He then added, "But then again, we are going off track!"

Petunia blinked as her mind snap back to the root of the conversation, "You were saying something about Harry's inheritance,"

Albus nodded, "Yes, yes…uh, I hold the key to his vault in trust but I can only give it to him when he came to an age of semi-independent which in the Magical World is at eleven of age since that is when his magic started to need actual control where else before this it was considered accidental magic because the magic that they produce came from an instinctual sense for danger and a need for comfort that you can recognise even in baby ducklings. It is also the reason that they never need to think about controlling their magic for it to happen,"

"Now, of course, that all changes when they hit the age of eleven which is very significant since it is the age where both their mind and body started to really mature from their stage of infancy. It is also the reason why most Magical Schools are boarding school since young wizards and witches needed the space away from parental influence for their magic to recognise their maturing hosts as actual wielder instead of a child that needs protection and comfort…" He paused and then blushed, "But again…I am going off track,"

He cleared his throat, "Petunia, I can support you until Harry reaches an age where he can be trusted with his trust vault key which was open for him until the age of independence which is seventeen,"

Petunia frowned, "But I…I can't possibly just take your money without some sort of compensation. I won't feel right for me!"

Albus sighed, "Very well, then. I supposed I could arrange for you to take a part-time work at Hogwarts but what sort of job can I…ah, yes! Perhaps you can be an assistant to our Muggle Study professor?"