This story is one of the reasons why Beholder is such a great fest. A pairing that had me staring at the screen, and then you manage to pull it off in a very believable story.
What they had was not love in the usual sense. They both knew the limitations of their relationship. But they were both strong, both passionate, both beings who appreciated strength, and striving, and perseverance. A great description of why this relationship works, and how it works. Not conventional, but meaningful and powerful, nonetheless.
As usual, you do a great job in creating believable characters.
apart from that diet and the random tantrum, of course. That’s exactly how Dudley would see himself – a great job of showing an annoying character, who is not annoying in his own eyes.
And this line: For all of his many faults, Vernon Dursley had loved his son and was fiercely proud of him. You do a great job in seeing the good traits in someone, without prettifying the character.
Dudley's revenge on George was perfectly justified, and Harry's drunken Patronus was a hoot. As was the party that caused it. Every species has their delusions, indeed.