Chapter Text
Harry hadn't meant to pry, but the sound drew him in before anything else. It was so much softer than he’d ever imagined and there was a freedom in it. It was so simple and so extraordinarily not like his aunt that it made him question everything he knew about her.
Uncle Vernon and Dudley had gone out-something about a manly trip that Harry had never been invited to, but often guessed it was a trip to the toy store of the latest gadget of sorts. Dudley always came back swollen with pride from the trips.
Aunt Petunia had stayed behind, not to watch Harry, but instead to watch an old program-on the television! Harry had never seen her do that;normally she was knitting while the television played or in the kitchen or out in the garden pretending not to listen to her neighbors.
Harry peered in from the doorway, as far as he could manage it without seeing too obvious. His aunt was laughing, head thrown back and wiping tears from her eyes. She looked so normal. So much softer than the harsh woman he knew.
He found himself leaning in, watching her and sneaking glances at the television-it was an old rerun, a black and white show with two Americans, tall slim one and a shorter stockier one-and his aunt Petunia was laughing at their comedic antics!
He must've made a sound, because his aunt turned away towards the doorway in a flash. He scrambled backwards, back to the dishes he was supposed to be doing, back to the kitchen, back to the-
“Come over, Harry,” she spoke-not yelled or scolded, just spoke, “let me introduce you to Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.”
Over the next few hours, Harry learned that his Aunt had a soft spot for American Comedians, specifically Abbott and Costello. It had started when Lily and Petunia were growing up, a family trip to the states and they'd seen it on television. From that point on, they visited every store in town, searching for old tapes, until they had managed to get them. From there, they discovered the Three Stooges and Laurel and Hardy among others. They'd spent hours watching and laughing together until life happened.
Lily was a witch and Petunia was not.
Lily sent Petunia very patient owls, ready to wait for her response. Petunia sent them every time, missing Lily very much. Lily complained that they had no televisions and no one knew who Abbott and Costello were and wasn't that a crying shame? Petunia agreed wholeheartedly.
Slowly things began to change and before either of the girls knew it, they'd gone almost a year without talking and then, Lily hid away with James and had Harry. By that time, Petunia met Vernon and soon had Dudley and neither of them cared for her American Comedians. By the time Harry had come to live with them, Petunia only watched them whenever Dudley and Vernon left.
Petunia watched Harry, laughing at something on the television. He sounded like Lily, head thrown back in the same way she used to.
“I watch them when Vernon and Dudley are out, you can join me if you'd like?”
Harry smiled softly, “I'd like that, Aunt Petunia.”
They watched and laughed through several more episodes, before the familiar motor of Vernon’s car came up the driveway. By the time Vernon and Dudley waddle up the path, the tapes were placed back in the bookshelf, out of sight, and Harry and Petunia had moved to the kitchen again.
“Oh pet, Dudley and I-” Vernon called out, coming into the kitchen and stopping short. Petunia was cutting up vegetables for dinner, not the boy. The boy was doing dishes.
“Erhm, pet, what is?”
“Nonsense Vernon dear, it's only vegetables! Besides, he's done quite a bit of work already! Dudley, go wash up this instant!”
Vernon grumbled but did not say anything else, retreating to the living room towards his chair to smoke his pipe. Dudley stomped up the stairs, annoyed at the missed opportunity to bully Harry.
Once dinner was fully prepared, Harry found himself at the table, with the family, eating from a plate of his own-a full plate. Dudley at one point had tried to steal his food once, but Petunia had given him a stern warning that left Vernon baffled.
“He's family,” and nothing more was said.
***
It didn't all change but it did change slowly, the cupboard under the stairs became a cupboard once again and Harry was moved upstairs to the second bedroom. He'd gone shopping with Aunt Petunia and together they'd gotten him clothes that fit and new trainers. He also got books and some puzzles as well.
There were still chores, but now Dudley had chores as well and now it was age appropriate chores. They were expected to maintain their bedrooms and help with dusting and dishes. In Harry's case, he no longer cooked, only made tea whenever he wanted.
Slowly, he began to see the difference, his skin was pink and healthy and his knees were no longer weak and knobby. He looked like a normal healthy ten year old child. For Dudley, the benefits were noticeable, his once massive frame began to slim down.
Of course, every time Vernon and Dudley left, Petunia would bring out biscuits and Harry would make tea. They would spend several hours laughing together at the antics of Abbott and Costello.