"He said the government and the school over there were both keeping an eye on results."
Vernon sneered.
"About time."
"People need to be able to earn a living first."
"Then they can talk about tradition and respectability."
"A bunch of grown adults only learning these things now."
"That shows there was something wrong with their old rules to begin with."
Dudley looked up.
"Dad, you seem especially energetic today."
Vernon glanced at him.
"Because I saw something today that made me happy."
"What?"
Dudley asked.
"Someone's finally started doing things by normal rules."
Harry lowered his head and cut his meat.
He did not respond to that.
But he noticed a page of the Daily Prophet among the pile of papers Vernon had casually brought back.
Harry recognized the masthead.
Vernon noticed Harry's gaze too.
He immediately reached out and pressed his hand over the page.
"I just happened to take a look."
He spoke very quickly.
"It was on the table in Mr. Black's lounge."
"It's not as though I went looking for it. He gave it to me."
Harry said nothing.
The clink of Petunia's knife and fork stopped for a moment.
Then it resumed its rhythm.
She did not look up.
But Harry could sense her glancing at that page out of the corner of her eye.
Vernon tucked the newspaper under the agenda.
"Looking isn't a crime."
He added.
Dudley chewed his lamb chop, his eyes shifting.
"Dad, have you been secretly reading that sort of newspaper?"
"Dudley."
Petunia's voice was quiet.
But Dudley immediately shut his mouth.
Vernon cleared his throat.
He cut the last piece of meat.
"Let me tell you something."
He looked at Harry.
"I've never liked any of that stuff of yours in my life."
"And I still don't."
"All