Dudley didn't dare do anything to Magic, so when they were in the back of the vehicle, she sat between he and Harry, which would give him some peace, along with the Dursley's as well. Aunt Petunia was in the front passenger seat, and Dudley had become so large that Harry was practically smashed against the door on his left. He didn't mind, though, as Magic was the one pressing him against the door, trapped between he and Dudley as she was. In response to his desires, her left arm wrapped around him. Harry hadn't lost his smile.
The drive home was filled with Dudley talking about his school, the Dursley's complimenting him on how great it was. Harry didn't even attempt to make any sort of conversation with the Dursley's, but his Uncle Vernon apparently didn't want him left out.
"And what's making you so happy, boy?" He asked sharply. "And don't be giving us a cheeky response, either."
"Are you sure you want me to answer?" Harry asked. "It's not cheek, I'm asking because it involves my unnaturalness."
"Keep it to yourself, then, boy. You remember our deal." Uncle Vernon snapped.
"Yes, Uncle Vernon." Harry stated, more than happy to do as he was told this time.
Harry was glad to get out of the car when they'd all arrived at the Dursley's home. Uncle Vernon didn't tell him to go to his room, though, so he didn't. Instead, he unfolded his cane and walked down the sidewalk, challenging his skills of crossing streets and navigating outside. Magic entered the house, however, as the Dursley's rules forbade her from leaving unless it was necessary. Harry spent an hour or so walking unfamiliar routs to keep his memory of such things accurate. When he returned, it was time to have dinner served. He and Magic received a fair portion of food, though Dudley and Uncle Vernon received the most, as usual.
"You'll be washing my car when you're through eating, boy." Uncle Vernon stated. "And I want it shining."
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Because I told you to, don't ask questions!" Uncle Vernon shouted.
"Okay, then." Harry said agreeably, feeling far too awake to sleep yet.
He'd had some difficulty getting sleep over the past few days that he'd had Magic back, though it wasn't because of any bad dreams. Not only had her return made him feel fantastic, but he felt like he'd obtained a serge of energy. The excitement of having Magic back in his life hadn't completely warn off yet, and he hoped it wouldn't for quite some time.
The next day, Harry walked to one of the stores to shop for his own food, as he decided he'd live out of the apartment in his trunk while he was at the Dursley's. After entering the store he remembered shopping at with Sharen, he listened to the sounds of beeps, people's carts, and chatting around him before making his way toward where she'd shown him the customer service counter was. After finding the counter with his cane, he called out, "Hello." No one responded, and after checking to make sure he was at the right place, he waited, turning his head as he listened to everything around him.
"Excuse me, sir!" He heard a vaguely familiar woman's voice call, and turned his head. "Can I help you?"
"Yeah, I just need a bit of help shopping." He replied, mentally going over his list in his mind.
"No problem, Harry." The woman said.
"How do you know me?" Harry asked, thinking and trying to remember who she was.
"It's me, Sharen!" She said, then pretended to sound hurt as she added, "I can't believe you don't remember me after I worked with you for so long."
"Now I remember." Harry said, smiling. Sharen pulled him into a hug, and he put an arm around her. "If you hadn't tried to change your voice, I'd have recognized you instantly."
"What's life without a little fun, Harry? Anyway, I hear you've gone off to a private school, after wading through the Dursley's information on what they claim as you attending a place called St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys." Sharen said. "I know that's not true, so I gather they're trying to hide something."
"Well, I can tell you I'm not going where they're claiming, but I can't actually tell you where I'm going either." Harry replied. "They want it kept private."
"That's okay." Sharen responded. "I've heard of schools like that before. I was just curious to know if you've been able to continue your mobility instruction there."
"On my own, yes. The school's a challenging place to be at, I can tell you that." Harry said.
"I'd love to hear about it." Sharen responded. "What do they teach there?"
"I can't really talk about that, either." Harry said apologetically.
"I guess they don't want people learning about their secret classes." Sharen said, though sounded light hearted about the entire thing. "Oh well. All that really matters is this. Are you happy?"
"Yeah. I'm happy." Harry replied, smiling, feeling the hot, soothing flame that only his magic provided, glad that it wasn't frozen any longer.
"Good." Sharen replied. "I'm glad. So, you need to get some items here? What did you have in mind?"
Harry listed his items to Sharen, who took him around the store and helped him purchase what he needed. Before going to the store, Harry had obtained some money from Aunt Petunia, who had made him promise to work hard to pay it off. Harry assured her that he would, though knew he'd likely be in for a grueling summer. Next time, he'd just go to Gringotts and get some Muggle money, he concluded, though there probably wouldn't need to be a next time once he finished with his purchases, as he planned to have Magic make certain all the items within his apartment would replenish themselves, and that even the perishable items would be preserved.
After Harry returned home with his purchases, Aunt Petunia intercepted him when he attempted to go to his room.
"Just where do you think you're taking all that, boy? I don't want to smell rotting food from your room because you've not refrigerated it!"
"I've got it taken care of, with things you wanted kept out of the way." Harry stated in a determined voice. "You won't even see anything, and aside from the chores I do, I'll be out of your way. I won't even need to be eating with you anymore, so you can spend as little time with me as possible."
"And what gives you the right to be reclusive?" Aunt Petunia asked. "You'll be eating with the rest of us, I don't want the neighbors asking questions!"
Harry let out a sigh of resignation, then said, "Okay, I will. But I'll be taking these up to my room as well."
"Fine." Aunt Petunia responded. "But if I smell any rotting food, we'll be cleaning it all up and you won't be making any more purchases like that again."
That was really code for Harry cleaning up the food while Aunt Petunia watched to make sure he was doing what she'd asked, but Harry didn't much care. Once in his room, he walked over to his trunk which Magic unlocked for him, going down into the apartment compartment and packing all of his food in its appropriate places. After he did so, he had Magic place duplicating and preserving magic over the items, so when he took something, poured a liquid, or it was beginning to expire, more could appear as fresh as the day he'd purchased it. He had Magic link her newly added magic to the rest of the magic within, making it seem as if the magic had been a part of the apartment all along. Now, Harry thought with eagerness, they would have more to eat than they usually obtained at the Dursley's.
"This is going to be great." Harry said with a grin to Magic.
"It's what you wish." Magic responded as always, and Harry couldn't think of a better reply, grabbing Magic in a joyful hug that she unemotionally returned.
The day was spent with Harry pulling weeds, and Aunt Petunia getting more and more angry with him when he wasn't always able to tell the difference between a weed and one of her plants. It was difficult for him to do so wearing gloves, though, and eventually fed up with him, sent him back inside and told him to get the other brat out there, which was Magic. Grinning widely, Harry bounded up the stairs, passed magic who was headed down stairs, then climbed into the fifth compartment of his trunk, eagerly setting up for cooking he and Magic a meal.
"Boy!" Aunt Petunia called.
Harry sighed, climbed from the trunk, then hurried from the room.
"I want this kitchen floor cleaned!" She said.
Harry got to work without complaint, cleaning around where Dudley had been continuously eating throughout his summer holidays so far, and still was. He then cleaned under and around everything else he could, making sure the floor was as clean as he could make it with the skills Aunt Petunia had drilled into him. After that, he vacuumed the floors, cleaned the tables, got up on a stool to dust off the tops of the cupboards, ensured everything else in the house was dusted, and cleaned the attic. By the time he was finished, Aunt Petunia had a new list of chores for him, and Harry was sent to clean the bathrooms completely, and as always, she checked over his work. He got a little hum of approval when he was finished, and Magic had completed the gardening work by the time Harry finished cleaning. Aunt Petunia checked her work as well, but found no fault in what either of them did, as she wasn't yelling at them. Harry would have to wait to eat until the Dursley's cooked dinner, though, as Aunt Petunia sat he and Magic down where she could see them, and told them not to move as if they were young children. Harry felt a little resentment at that, but kept it to himself.
The phone rang after a few minutes passed, and Aunt Petunia answered.
"Dursley residence." She said.
There was a few moments of silence before she snapped, "Potter's grounded, he won't be talking and he isn't to send any letters." The phone was then hung up, then Harry heard Aunt Petunia approaching he and Magic.
"You two. I don't want your friend calling here ever again. Got it?" She asked.
"Never?" Harry asked. "Why?"
"Because I said so." Aunt Petunia stated coolly. "Now stop asking questions, or you'll have even more to do."
Harry mentally sighed, and when dinner was served to everyone an hour later, he and Magic received their usual portion of food, which was enough to prevent him from being starved. He was still hungry, though, and looked forward to cooking when he could be alone without the Dursley's calling him to do anything. The dinner conversation consisted of Uncle Vernon talking about his job, and how if he was lucky, he'd soon be getting a pay raise, a rather significant one. He would be having a couple people high up in the company that he worked for, Grunnings, coming to the house in three days, and as a result, he drilled everyone through yet another ridiculous schedule. Harry and Magic were delegated to being in their room as usual, being absolutely silent.
"Just like you did last summer, boy, that worked out very nicely. And with any luck, we'll be going on a two week long vacation if this deal is struck!" Uncle Vernon boomed after telling Harry and Magic what they were to do. "Now, Petunia dear, the Hendersons are older people, so be ready to provide them with any help they might need. It wouldn't do for one of them to trip and fall."
"Of course, dear." Aunt Petunia responded pleasantly.
"I can do that, dad." Dudley announced.
"That's my boy, always willing to give help to those who need it!" Uncle Vernon responded proudly.
Later on that night, Harry cooked he and Magic a full dinner meal, enjoying it with her sitting next to him at the table within the kitchen inside his trunk. That was one way to stop feeling a bit hungry at the Dursley home, Harry thought. Despite the fact that the Dursley's seemed a bit more harsh than they usually were, the best thing in the world had happened to him. Magic was back, and he couldn't stop grinning in joy from the knowledge. In response to his wishes, Magic leaned against him and her right arm firmly wrapped around him.
"I won't be petrified again." Magic stated.
"I know you won't." Harry responded happily.
The next day, Harry was handed painting supplies by Aunt Petunia and told to repaint their shed. He knew it wasn't going to go well, as he didn't even know what he was doing. While she started to walk off, Harry said, "Aunt Petunia, you'll have to teach me."
"Figure it out for yourself." She snapped. "It's not that hard."
"There's different cans of paint here. What am..." He began.
"They're the same color." She stated. "Get out there, get painting."
Harry let out a shaky sigh as he went out to the back yard and over to the shed, touching the wood that felt chipped in some areas, and wasn't quite smooth. Placing the two cans of paint down, Harry held the brush in his hand and felt the soft end of it, which he would use to dip into the paint. He could almost hear Hermione telling him the steps involved, or Magic's precision as she read and learned, but neither of them were here. Magic was up in his room to avoid any neighbor's suspicion, unless Aunt Petunia was having her do something else. He knew he was going to get it all wrong without any help, but didn't think there was any help he could get from anyone. Hermione would be the least suspicious person, but she wasn't here even though he wished she could be. Nothing to it, Harry thought to himself optimistically, deciding to start at the part of the shed facing away from the house.
After opening one of the cans of paint, Harry dipped the brush in, and when he felt resistance indicating he'd gotten it in the paint, pushed it further down before pulling it out and reaching up high, doing so quickly before he put the brush carefully against the wood and moved down, trying to paint the corner first before he'd move on to the side. He tried to spread it evenly without touching it, as he'd heard from Uncle Vernon that touching paint would cause the paint job to get smudged, and he didn't want to do that.
By the time Harry had been working outside for about fifteen minutes, he knew he was probably doing something wrong. It always happened when he did something without any kind of instruction. He didn't dwell on that, though, only continued on, eventually getting all sides of the shed painted. Once he'd been outside for about two hours, Aunt Petunia came out to check on his progress.
"Are you aware just how many places you've missed?" She asked angrily, but kept her voice quiet enough so the neighbors wouldn't be able to listen in. "And did you even bother to sand it before you started?"
"Sand what?" Harry asked. "I told you I didn't know what I was..."
"Don't you talk back to me." Aunt Petunia stated furiously. "Now that you've destroyed the paint job, I'm..." Aunt Petunia let out a frustrated huff. "Don't they teach you anything in that school of yours that's worth learning, or is it just like my sister learned, everything freakish and nothing natural?"
"They teach us how to use magic." Harry replied quietly. "It's a school to learn magic, not painting. I don't know what I'm doing out here. I'm not surprised I screwed it up."
Harry kept his voice as calm as he could, so he wouldn't antagonize Aunt Petunia. Unfortunately, it didn't help.
"If you can't do this, you might as well do something you're good at." Aunt Petunia responded coolly. "Anything Dudley asks, you'll do it. Get in there."
"Exactly why are you more antagonistic than usual, Aunt Petunia? And Uncle Vernon, too, all of you in fact." Harry said with a bit of coolness to his voice.
"Just do what I tell you and don't ask questions." Aunt Petunia stated furiously.
"I want to know." Harry stated, standing his ground.
"It was because of that stupid warning we got from that... That place of yours." Aunt Petunia said. "Then they said we didn't have to pick you up after we'd been waiting around for two hours, and no Harry Potter. We had to find the letter in our mail after we got home. I'm warning you, boy, one more thing like that and we'll take you from that place and go somewhere they won't be taking you back. Maybe America."
"What?" Harry asked, completely surprised. "Look, I'm sure if you'd checked the mail before you left..."
"Enough." Aunt Petunia snapped. "Uncle Vernon and I have already discussed this. Your school does this type of thing one more time, we're moving in with the yanks. Then we'll see just what Hogwarts is willing to do to get you back, and when they don't, we'll put you into a respectable school, what you should have attended in the first place. Now get inside, do what I tell you, and stop asking questions."
Harry wasn't surprised to learn about this from the Dursley's, and knew they'd probably be harder on him this summer because he'd failed to show up when Hogwarts was about to pull him out. He'd almost forgotten about it, and had originally figured the Dursley's had received the notice that he was staying at Hogwarts before they left to go to Kings Cross station. Waiting around for two hours with a station full of unnatural people had probably pushed their patience to the limits. After Harry got inside, he walked over to where Dudley was watching the television. His cousin only said, "Stay out of the way, Potter."
"Aunt Petunia told me I'm supposed to get you anything you want." Harry replied calmly.
"Good." Dudley stated. "Cook me some bacon. All of it."
Either way Harry thought about that situation, he knew he'd get into trouble. If he cooked all the bacon, the Dursley's would yell at him for making them buy more than they needed to. If he didn't, Dudley would tell Aunt Petunia that he wasn't doing what he was told. And if he only cooked part of it and not all of it, Dudley would know. The same would happen if he made it look like he'd cooked it all by duplicating one package, in which case, the Dursley's would get him into more trouble and lecture him even more about not using his unnaturalness in their home. With some resignation, and his excitement and euphoria of having Magic back in his life considerably dampened from the tongue lashing he knew he'd receive, he got to work, resigned to what would occur.
As soon as Aunt Petunia came inside after about an hours work, presumably to take a break, Dudley immediately spoke up as Harry thought he would.
"Mum, Potter's cooked all the bacon."
"Is that true, boy?" Aunt Petunia asked. "Making us spend more money, are you?"
"Dudley told me to, and you told me to do what Dudley asked." Harry replied.
To Harry's great surprise, Aunt Petunia simply said, "Well, then, that's just fine. Our Dudley needs all the fattening up he can get, isn't that right Didicans?" As usual when she spoke to Dudley, she spoke in a ridiculous baby voice. Dudley, of course, agreed immediately.
Over the next two days, Harry and Magic helped Aunt Petunia to make sure the house was as clean as they could get it, while Dudley, as usual, ate and watched the television, a new one the Dursley's had got for him so he stopped complaining about the walk between where he sat and where the television was. After all the cleaning was completed and the evening of Uncle Vernon's meeting approached, Harry was told to go to his room. He did so, and once the door was closed behind him, grinned and sat on his bed with Magic's arm around him, listening.
"Why, good evening Mr. and Mrs. Henderson!" Aunt Petunia's voice was overly kind and rather cheerful. "And who's this you brought with you?"
"This is our daughter, Sharen." A man who's voice Harry didn't recognize said.
"It's good to see you, Mr. and Mrs. Dursley." Harry recognized the familiar voice of Sharen, who sounded calm. He hadn't thought she'd show up, and felt quite surprised and curious.
"Good to see you also." Aunt Petunia said.
"May I take your jackets, Mr. and Mrs Henderson?" Dudley's voice asked, which was pretty much an exact copy of what he'd said when the Mason's had come over the previous year. While Harry hadn't actually heard that because of Dobby, and his requiring a sound barrier to make sure the Dursley's wouldn't hear him talking to the house elf, he had been in the kitchen with Magic while Uncle Vernon had taken them through their ridiculous schedule.
"That would be lovely, dear." Mrs. Henderson responded, at least, that's who Harry assumed it was due to the unfamiliar female voice.
Harry could hear them moving around below him, then Sharen's voice, fainter now likely due to the change in location, asked, "Where's Harry?"
"I'll get him, just a moment. He's probably just wrapped up with work." Uncle Vernon responded, and Harry felt eager to actually socialize with others during a meeting Uncle Vernon didn't want him to attend.
It wasn't long before the door to the room opened, and Uncle Vernon stated, "The Henderson's want to see you, boy, and there will be no funny business while they're here. Get dressed in the best clothes you've got, and get down here. Make it quick, boy. You put one toe out of line, you'll regret it. And you had better not embarrass me in front of our guests."
This was perfect, Harry thought to himself, glad for the opportunity he had to possibly ingratiate himself with the Dursley's, and, perhaps, get them to ease up on their harsh treatment of him.
"What about Magic?" Harry asked.
"She stays here." Uncle Vernon stated furiously, but quietly, then closed the door carefully.
Harry dressed in the best second hand clothes that he had, and hoping he looked nice enough, tried to flatten his hair before exiting the room to hear Sharen speaking.
"My parents didn't actually think much of it until I decided to work there, but I changed their views on people with disabilities pretty fast."
The Dursley's laughed a little.
"So, tell us, Vernon." Mr. Henderson said as Harry walked down the stairs and entered the dining area where everyone was eating. "How did you... Ah, there he is, the Harry Potter we've heard so much about!"
"Hi." Harry said to the old man as he heard him getting up.
"Good evening to you, young man. Sharen's told us a great deal about you." Mr. Henderson responded, and sounding kinder than Harry had ever heard him sound when he spoke to him, Uncle Vernon said, "Come sit over here, Harry."
"So, what horrors has Sharen shared about me?" Harry asked with a grin as he sat down. Everyone laughed, the Dursley's a little forcefully.
"Oh, nothing too terrible." Mrs. Henderson responded. "Though I do understand you're quite the proficient individual."
"That's right." Harry said.
"Sadly, I had to teach you everything you know." Sharen said in a good natured tone of voice.
"Sharen's told us that, Harry, but we've always thought it was an over exaggeration. I'm curious, is that actually true, or have the Dursley's taught you acceptable socialization behaviors?" Mr. Henderson asked.
"Well, actually..." Harry began.
"We've taught him a lot of things." Uncle Vernon interrupted.
"I do believe I was asking Mr. Potter a question, Mr. Dursley." Mr. Henderson stated in a voice that was a bit cooler than usual.
Harry nervously cleared his throat as Aunt Petunia put a plate, knife, fork, and a few other things in front of him. He then said with his heart pounding, "Sharen taught me most things, but I've been taught a few things by the Dursley's."
"Is that so?" Mrs. Henderson asked. "I can't think of anything better to prove you're up to the task than to see how you treat those who can't see, for instance. Tell us, Harry, what have the Dursley's taught you to do?"
"I've learned how to clean things, dust, even a bit of gardening." Harry responded.
"Have you learned anything about cooking?" Mr. Henderson asked.
"Yeah, I have." Harry said. "But it was a friend of mine who actually helped me with that."
"A friend?" Mr. Henderson asked. "I'd like to meet this person."
"She's... Well, I think you'd find her a bit awkward to talk with." Harry explained.
"Would you like something to eat, Harry?" Aunt Petunia asked, she also using one of the kindest voices Harry had ever heard directed at him from her.
"Sure." Harry replied.
"So, Harry, what else have you been taught by the Dursley's?" Mrs. Henderson asked.
"That's about it, really. My friend's helped me with everything else, making the bed, folding clothes, doing laundry, things like that. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon wanted me to do them, so she helped me." Harry responded truthfully, realizing this dinner wasn't going to go how he'd thought it would.
"I've got to ask, then, because I'm curious. Why didn't your friend help you stop rocking and pressing your eyes?" Sharen asked. "Why was that task up to me?"
"I didn't want to stop doing that." Harry responded. "And the Dursley's... They just told me not to embarrass them in public, but they never really took me out anywhere until Sharen taught me to stop with my blindisms, as they're called."
"So your friend, she does what you want her to do, and teaches you the things you want to learn, then?" Mr. Henderson asked.
"Yeah, that's it, really." Harry responded. "Our relationship's different, very different than a lot of them."
"Now I'm curious." Sharen said. "I want to meet this friend of yours that I've never met."
"She's fairly reclusive." Uncle Vernon replied.
"Then she does live here?" Sharen asked.
"Yeah." Harry responded. "She's upstairs. Want me to call her down?"
"That's not necessary, Harry." Uncle Vernon responded. "It would just make things awkward. Trust me, everyone."
"I'd like to meet her." Mr. Henderson said. The others agreed, and Sharen asked, "If Vernon doesn't mind, would you call her down, Harry?"
"Sure." Harry responded. "May I, Uncle Vernon?"
"If they'd like to see her, sure." Uncle Vernon replied, though his voice was a little tenser than usual.
"Magic!" Harry called out. "Come down here, please!"
"That's a very unusual name." Sharen said, sounding very curious.
Harry heard Magic's footsteps, then Mr. Henderson said, "Good evening, Magic. And how are you tonight?"
This was about to get awkward, Harry realized.
"I am how Harry is, and Harry is well." Magic stated. As usual, she was straight forward and direct.
"So, we hear you've taught Harry a lot of things." Mrs. Henderson said as Magic sat on Harry's other side, in a chair Aunt Petunia pulled over for her. Harry now sat between Sharen and Magic, and Harry noted Mrs. Henderson's voice sounded a little awkward and somehow nervous.
"Harry can know everything I know." Magic stated. "His skills are mine, and my skills can become his with practice."
"So, you don't actually teach Harry, then. You do something, and he learns the skill because you did whatever it was?" Sharen asked.
"Yes." Magic stated.
"How does that work, Harry?" Sharen asked.
"It's..." Harry trailed off, not sure how to continue.
"Is it hard to explain?" Sharen asked.
"You could say that." Harry responded.
"Why don't you give it a try, Magic. I'm very curious about this." Sharen replied.
Harry felt a bit of anxiety, and knew that if Magic explained it, not only would he be in a great deal of trouble, he'd be exposing the magical world to people who didn't know anything about it. He didn't want Magic to explain it.
"No." Magic stated simply, directly.
"No? Why not?" Sharen asked, and quite casually, stated the most unexpected statement. "I already know that Harry goes to Hogwarts. How much worse could it get?"
Harry felt the blood drain from his face as he gasped. Aunt Petunia dropped something that made a splash and rolled from the table, shattering on the floor. Uncle Vernon, apparently forgetting any sense of propriety for a moment, leapt up and shouted, "Boy, just what did..." He almost instantly trailed off and sat back down.
"So." Sharen stated in the coldest voice Harry had ever heard. "Even more truth comes out, now. You might as well tell us, Magic, we won't be surprised."
Harry was resigned, and allowed Magic to do whatever it was she wanted, tell them anything they asked.
"I'm Harry's magic, Magic. I will know all that he knows, and he can know all that I know, and copy all that I do, learn and practice to become proficient." Magic stated. Harry's heart pounded in his chest and his hands trembled. He didn't know what was going to happen next, but whatever it was, it probably wasn't going to be anything good.
"It's okay, Harry." Sharen said calmly, her voice gentle. "I'm a squib. Both of my parents are magical, and they've gone to Hogwarts before."
"You wouldn't mind, would you, if I rep..." Mrs. Henderson began to say, but Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had had enough.
"You are working in my company, higher than I am? You... Those people... That... How... I can't..." Uncle Vernon was so angry that he was spluttering, hardly able to speak his sentences in an eloquent manner.
"But you taught me things at a muggle school, Sharen." Harry said, surprised and completely shocked by the turn of events.
"Yes, I did." Sharen said as Harry felt a pulse of repairing magic and heard the glass come together. Now that he was paying attention, and actually thinking about what he could feel, he realized that Mr. and Mrs. Henderson were magical, but Sharen's power level was only slightly above that of Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon, so he wasn't surprised he hadn't noticed it before.
"Why?" Harry asked. "Why there, why not at a magical... I mean, why weren't you teaching somewhere else or doing something else?"
"Squibs are looked down upon in the magical world, and my parents, knowing that would happen to me when I failed to match with any wand, decided the perfect solution was to live as Muggles. They mostly do, but with a little magic here and there to help things along." Sharen stated. "And judging from the Dursley's attitudes, they don't much care for magic. It's no wonder you've been placed in a home where you aren't shown love or kindness."
"Indeed. I'm quite appalled at the state of events here." Mr. Henderson stated in a hard voice. "And I'll tell you as a matter of courtesy, Mr. Dursley, that I can have social workers here at any time to check up on how things are going, that I could even claim guardianship of Mr. Potter here, should we take this to court. I'm certain that even Harry would agree that you're far from suitable guardians. You haven't abused him so much, perhaps, but it's clear that you haven't shown him any love, either."
"I'd have to say yes on that one." Harry replied after a long moment of silence.
"You can't take him!" Aunt Petunia shouted quite suddenly.
"And just why is that, Mrs. Dursley?" Mrs. Henderson asked in an icy tone.
"Because he's a lot safer here than with you!" Aunt Petunia stated coldly.
"Something that we could very easily remedy with a Fidelius Charm, if we had to." Sharen stated coolly. "My parents are quite proficient in spell casting, and I'm certain we could make arrangements. Shall Harry's living conditions improve, or shall we pro..."
"You have no right to blackmail us into this!" Uncle Vernon bellowed in rage.
"We have every right!" Mr. Henderson shouted back. "Harry Potter is being neglected and isn't loved here, and I'm certain if we asked him, he'd much rather be anywhere but here!"
"Harry?" Sharen said after silence settled again. "Is that true?"
"For the summer, yes, I'd stay at Hogwarts if I could, or go to the Burrow. That's where the Weasley's live." Harry responded.
"I see." Sharen stated. "Well, I think it's settled, then. If you like, Harry, we'll get this taken care of in the Muggle court system. Not to worry, there will be a proxy to the Ministry of Magic in the court we go to, and I'm certain with information you could provide us, and evidence around the house such as lack of pictures denoting Harry and Magic haven't been included in any of the family events, we can easily claim guardianship of you if you want."
"You would do that for me?" Harry asked, feeling his throat closing and tears of happiness in his eyes.
"Yes, Harry. We would." Sharen responded kindly as she gently hugged him.
"Please." Harry whispered as he returned her embrace, feeling a great joy that finally, he'd be removed from the Dursley's unloving care.
"Don't you worry, Harry." Sharen said as she stroked his back, she also sounding near tears. "We'll get this settled, I promise you that."