I am Harry Potter's Cousin, Big D

Hurriedly leaving Ollivanders, the trio arrived at the shop directly opposite: the Magical Pet Shop.

Dudley suddenly slapped his forehead. "Oh, right, Harry, I almost forgot. I didn't get a chance to give you your birthday gift the other day."

"Harry's birthday?" Hermione asked, her brow furrowed in thought. "When was it?"

"The day before yesterday," Dudley replied.

Hermione nodded, then suddenly suggested, "How about Dudley and I get you a pet together?" Although she had only just met Harry, he was Dudley's cousin, and that was enough for her.

A pet! The word instantly piqued Harry's interest. Besides spiders, he had never kept any other pets. He hesitated. "It's already passed... I don't think it's necessary." Dudley was his cousin, so it was fine, but he had only just met Hermione. It didn't feel right to accept such a gift from her.

"You've gotten one every year, and this year won't be an exception," Dudley insisted, patting Harry's shoulder. "Besides, Hermione's birthday is in two months. Just prepare a nice gift for her then. You're the rich one among us, after all." With that, he slung an arm around Harry's neck and steered him towards the pet shop.

Hearing the mention of her birthday, a slight blush flashed across Hermione's face. She tidied her hair a little and followed them inside.

At the entrance, a group of mice were dancing the samba, attracting the attention of many young wizards, though their parents were clearly not interested in buying them.

"The letter says you can choose an owl, a cat, or a toad," Dudley said, instinctively ignoring the toads. Hardly anyone liked those things.

The shop was a chaotic mix of creatures, though the variety wasn't huge. It was mostly mice, toads, owls, and cats, with a few small lizards and parrots, one of which even breathed fire. Dudley knew he couldn't communicate with any of them using his newly acquired Magical Creature Language; they were just ordinary animals, albeit perhaps a bit smarter than their Muggle counterparts. He longed for a real magical creature, but unfortunately, there were none for sale here.

After browsing several pet shops, Harry finally found the pet he wanted: a beautiful snowy owl with black flecks on its feathers.

"Why didn't you choose a cat?" Hermione asked. She preferred cats to owls. "Don't you like them?"

"Dudley likes cats more," Harry explained. "Aunt Petunia is allergic to cat hair, so Dudley doesn't keep any." Harry himself wasn't particularly fond of them; at Mrs. Figg's, it was always Dudley who played with the cats.

"That's a shame," Hermione said, looking regretful. She had wanted to get a cat, but none of them had caught her eye. Choosing a cat, she thought, was like finding a partner; it was all about that initial spark.

Listening to their conversation, Dudley had an idea. "Hermione," he said, "if I get a cat in the future, could I leave it at your place during the holidays?"

"You... you can," she replied softly.

The purchasing power of Galleons in the wizarding world was surprisingly strong. After buying all their supplies, including the owl, they still had quite a bit left over. This was mainly because Dudley hadn't bought any potion ingredients; otherwise, no amount would have been enough. Dragon liver was being sold nearby for seventeen Sickles an ounce—one Galleon. Potion Masters, he realized, had to be rich. Poverty was a very direct barrier to entry. Besides brewing, Dudley was also curious about the taste of things like dragon liver and phoenix marrow. He decided he would first have to find a way to earn some Galleons.

When the three of them arrived at the meeting spot, they found only Professor McGonagall, Petunia, and Mrs. Granger. Vernon and Mr. Granger had already gone off to the Leaky Cauldron for a drink. The Dursleys had only bought the required textbooks, saving the rest of the money for Dudley. The Grangers, on the other hand, had bought a mountain of extra books for their daughter.

"Hermione," Dudley said, his eyes shining as he looked at the pile of books, "can I come over to your place to read during this next month?" He had read Mrs. Figg's collection, but a Squib's library was limited. One could never have too much knowledge, especially when heading off to an unknown magical school.

"Mhm," Hermione nodded, naturally unable to refuse such a simple request. A slight blush colored her cheeks; no other boy had ever been to her house before.

Dudley swore he just wanted to study. He could buy the books himself, but why spend money when he could get them for free? Even with his assets in the Muggle world, he was penniless here. Making good use of existing resources was crucial. Besides, he still had the hundred Galleons he'd exchanged using Harry's eligibility tucked away safely.

Petunia drove them home. Vernon and Mr. Granger had had quite a bit to drink, declaring that wizarding world alcohol had a unique charm.

The next day, after Dudley finished his morning workout, the family sat around the dining table, enjoying a delicious breakfast.

"Harry and I are scheduled to leave for Hogwarts on September 1st," Dudley announced after swallowing a small sausage. He cleared his throat, his expression turning serious. "Before that, there's something I need to confess to you. I had originally planned to tell you after I turned eighteen."

Seeing his serious demeanor, Vernon and Petunia sat up straight. Harry, however, had a feeling he knew what was coming.

"Actually," Dudley said, meeting their gazes, "I've started a company."

***

(End of Chapter)

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