When Dudley was six months old, Vernon and Petunia bought a house on Privet Drive.

"Just the right amount of space for our little boy!" said Petunia. "It's such a unique house!"

"It's exactly the same as all the other houses on this street," replied Vernon smartly.

"I know... isn't it lovely?" she answered, not really listening.

When Dudley was one, Petunia gave their nephew Harry the closet under the stairs for his room.

"Get in there, you," she said to the unmoving baby, swaddled in a blanket.

"Are you sure he can live there?" asked Vernon. "He's just a baby, for God's sake."

"I'm not going to give that thing─" Petunia said, revolted, "Dudley's room, if that's what you're asking!"

The she softened. "Fine, we'll give him a crib in the spare room ─ for now."

When Dudley was two, they enrolled him in a toddlers' "Intellignce Aid" Course.

"Only the best for out little boy!" exclaimed his mother.

"But we're in debt, Pet," Vernon told her. "And we still have to pay off the mortgage."

"Dudders needs this," she informed him. "We'll manage like we always have."

When Dudley was three, Vernon and Petunia gave up a free vacation in order to care for Dudley at home.

"We can't trust anyone with our boy for three whole days!" said Petunia, shocked. "I'm sorry, Vernon, but that can't happen!"

"You're right, he needs mac 'n cheese for lunch every other day or he'll cry for days. No one else buys our organic box mix."

"Finally, you understand!"

When Dudley was five, Vernon declined a raise and better job at Grunnings.

Petunia told him, "Honey, we'd have to move. Dudley wouldn't be able to go to Smeltings when he gets older!"

"He can go to another school. Petunia, this job could pay for that vacation to Majorca we've been dreaming about!"

"My word is final, Vernon."

When Dudley was eight, Harry was forced to take over two-third of the housework.

"Are you absolutely positive about this, love?" asked Vernon. "Dudley can't do those things."

"Well of course not! Dudders isn't a dangerous, unstable boy like Harry! Harry is only fit for menial tasks. He's should be lucky we give him food and board at all, the good-for-nothing crook." Petunia scowled as she said this.

"Why did we agree to take him in in the first place?" asked Vernon, hopelessly.

"We had to. The neighbors would have thought we were inhuman if we didn't keep the boy."

"Oh, yes..."

When Dudley was eleven, Vernon and Petunia received a bullying report from the principal of his school, saying that Dudley had punched multiple students and sat on them until they couldn't breathe.

"Vernon," said Petunia, "What do we do? Do you think he really did this? It sounds bad."

"Pet, you've always been right about these things. I'm sure he's a wonderful boy. He must have been framed," replied Vernon. He trusted his wife's past instincts.

And so, convinced, Petunia wrote a strongly worded letter to Smeltings that very day.

When Dudley was eighteen, he wrote a letter, asked his parents for 10,000 dollars to buy a sports car.

Things were different. Their nephew had saved the─ wizards, and Dudley had been away from home for over a year.

Vernon and Petunia wrote back a week later.

Dudders, we can't help you any more. We're sure you'll do fine. Love, Mum and Daddy.

"Petunia," Vernon told her, "it's time to care about ourselves. We've given him our entire lives ever since he was born. He's an adult now. He can handle it."

For the first time in many years, she gave him a genuine smile in return. "Time to do things how we want," she replied.

"I love you, Petunia."

"I love you, Vernon."