Vernon wished he got let off for his crimes when Harry asked, "Uncle Vernon, am I really not a burden?" In the car. "Harry, you are not a burden. Please understand that." "Then why did you treat me badly until you and Aunt Petunia divorced?" Vernon took a minute to discreetly take a few breaths. He wouldn't be so discreet, if it didn't make Harry apologize. He apologized for doing his homework last time he took a few breaths in front of Harry. "I'm going to be honest with you, boy." Vernon tried his best to keep his answer appropriate for an eleven year old. "You know you are a wizard. Your Aunt, she convinced me your magic could be stamped out. I see now I was wrong. I know you were treated as one for the longest time, but listen here boy, you are not and never will be a burden." "But I do magic all the time! I can't control it! It gets me in trouble and hurts others!" Harry was crying as he protested.
Vernon couldn't tell his therapist about Harry's magic as that would either make him seem crazy or put a target on Harry's back and both were undesirable. "You cannot control your magical outbursts. I'm not going to argue they aren't inconvenient. They are, but they are showing you are a developmentally healthy young boy." Harry cried, "Am I the reason you and Aunt Petunia divorced?" Vernon had to be careful, this was a tricky question. Being warned it would come up made it a less jarring question, "No. I saw I was abusing both of you. And I was being enabled to do so. I had a change of heart. So it is my fault we divorced." Yes, Harry was the prime factor in the divorce, but that is not something you ever tell your charge. Harry started crying, "I know you would've stayed together if it wasn't for me!" Vernon tried to console Harry to no avail. He was able to schedule an emergency therapist section for Harry.
It took a long time for Harry to feel as if he wasn't at fault for the divorce. Vernon looked in the mirror when he was alone. "Vernon Dursley, you must be patient with Harry and Dudley as both kids are affected by your actions and your actions alone. Harry won't be accepting of you right away and Dudley will hate you for taking him away from his mother. It is your fault Harry thinks he's a burden and your fault Dudley is angry at you. You allowed this and you will make up for your mistakes. Both kids deserve a loving guardian and you will do what's right. Not what is easy. Yes, it's easy to go back to the past and continue the status quo. But you know it isn't right.
Being afraid of magic is no excuse Mister. You will deal with the consequences of your actions young man."
Vernon did see improvement when both boys hit 15. Harry would talk to him about school besides the typical hand report card and run to his room. Dudley would be nice to everyone and start showing affection towards Vernon again.
Vernon was shocked when he arrived at a decorated house on his birthday with both kids jumping at him screaming, "Surprise!" Well, it was a surprise. The streamers said, "Best guardian ever." "My favorite uncle." "World's number one dad." "Thank you, boys." Both boys hugged him. "Uncle Vernon, thank you." "Dad, I understand now." Vernon patted his children on the back, "This is the best birthday gift I ever gotten." Vernon was uncharacteristically struggling not to cry.
He was given a new suit by Dudley and a pen by Harry. "I charmed it so it never runs out of ink. It took a while as I had to work with runes, it's very hard." Vernon thanked Harry and decided his next question was the true test of whether Harry is faking his trust or not, "Will you explain runes to me later Harry?" Harry's face lit up, "Really. Yes, of course!" Dudley laughed, "Me too! Why do you two get to have all the fun!?" "Of course." Things were looking up.
"After we eat this lovely food you two cooked, I'll take you driving. We need groceries." After they did eat, it was Harry's turn to drive to. He noticed Harry was a very risk driven driver. This resulted in Vernon grabbing the wheel more than he would like. Harry was learning, he didn't have to grab the wheel this trip. "Very good, Harry, you are staying where you need to be. Please try not to get so close to the cars next time. You still need to practice giving them room." Oddly enough, Dudley was the cautious driver. Too cautious, as Vernon had to tell him to speed up multiple times when Dudley drove them back. Vernon wondered if this is how parents of twins felt, pure terror.
Though, that wasn't his biggest problem that week. Harry asked to speak to Vernon in private. Vernon went into the barn with the young man. "Yes, my boy." "Uncle Vernon." Harry looked down, "I'm not- I like- I'm gay." Well that wasn't what he was expecting. He was expecting to be told Harry turned his teacher into an eagle or something. Vernon tried to keep his mind from scrambling, "I'm glad you trust me, my boy. I want you to be yourself and don't let anyone change you." Vernon resolved to work on his biases again. He will not treat Harry badly for this, his biases got him nothing but trouble.