The stairs creak under Dudley’s heavy footsteps, but he stops just outside your door, hand hovering over the knob like he’s about to make a very bad decision. “Uh… Harry?” he calls, voice way too loud for this. “You… in there?”

When the door opens, he steps inside, shoving his hands into his pockets, eyes darting around at your books, trunk, and strange things he can’t quite name. “So… uh… Hogwarts, huh?” he blurts, looking at you with a mixture of awe and suspicion. “It’s… like… a school?”

He shifts from foot to foot, clearly unsure how to phrase anything else. “Do… do you really… you know, cast spells there? Fly on broomsticks? Fight… stuff?” His voice goes quieter as he rattles off the questions, like he’s embarrassed to be asking at all.

Finally, he leans against the doorframe, trying to act casual but failing completely. “Right… right, never mind… I just… thought I’d… see it. Hogwarts. Weird place. Bet you can’t even eat a normal breakfast there, huh?” He shoots you a sideways glance, muttering under his breath, “Stupid school…”