Chapter 1

For what seemed like the 20th time that day, Harry Potter flopped on his bed to think. He wasn't really sure what he was thinking about, mostly just a whole bunch of scattered thoughts. The main thing constantly one his mind was the Dark Lord, and his return to power in June. The night in the graveyard had been haunting Harry's dreams, causing him to wake up drenched with sweat, tears threatening his eyes because of the loss of Cedric Diggory, the other Hogwarts champion.

Everybody in the wizarding world new Harry potter: he was the Boy Who Lived. When Harry was just over a year old, the dark lord Voldemort had come to Lily and James' Potter's cottage, where they had been hiding from Voldemort. While Voldemort killed both of Harry's parents, he could not kill Harry, just little baby. The curse back fired, and Voldemort was left with nothing but a smoky form. But Voldemort did return, that previous summer, right before Harry's eyes. Harry managed to make it back to Hogwarts with Cedric's lifeless body, causing a lot of suspicion on Harry's case.

Being stuck with the Dursley's for the summer didn't really help, considering they were constantly treating Harry like an over large piece of crap; but their distance from Harry was often helpful. They had him locked up in his room most of the time, except for meals and when they knew they must let him out for a bit of air. Though Harry was surprised by Dudley; he was usually sneering and making rude remarks about him, but this summer, he just kept his distance, and not even in a way as to suggest he was frightened.

Harry let out a long, low sigh. He had no idea about what was going on in the wizarding world. Even his two best friends were not even bothering to tell him anything; they hadn't even sent him a birthday card. It was just after 10:00 am, and Harry still had not received anything from anyone, they usually sent him something only seconds after midnight. He couldn't deny that he was fairly disappointed.

Harry changed out of his pyjamas and headed down for breakfast. Once Harry was descending the stairs, he was really surprised when he heard Dudley whisper his name from the top of the stairs, and motioned for him to follow.

Dudley lead them into his room; Harry had always been jealous of everything Dudley had and he didn't. The many shelves in his room were loaded with toys, and so many books that he knew Hermione would go crazy, especially since none of them had ever even been touched. Dudley picked up something off his bed and handed it to Harry.

"It's a gift," Dudley said indicating the horribly wrapped object. Harry looked at him with his mouth open, completely surprised. Dudley sighed and continued. "I-I know me and you have never gotten along, but I want to. We've lived together almost our whole lives and we've never managed to say anything civil to each other."

Harry looked at him still in complete shock. "So-so what you're saying is-"

"Is that I want us to actually get along for a change," Dudley finished for him.

Harry continued to just look at him on shock, his mouth open. He closed it quickly after realizing, and managed to stutter a few words. "I-I'd like that D-Dudley."

"Great!" Dudley said very enthusiastically. "Aren't you going to open your gift?"

"O-oh yeah." Harry ripped off the paper, and laughed when he saw what Dudley had gotten for him.

"I know its not the best or anything, but it's really the only thing I could think of. And that was the only picture I could find with you actually in it." Harry thanked Dudley and told him to come with him to his room. He set down his gift on his desk, looking at it with a smile. Dudley had gotten Harry a simple silver picture frame, with a picture of the two of them in it. They both looked very grumpy, but they did look rather cute.

Dudley was looking around Harry's bedroom in awe, reading the titles of his large books and focusing mainly on the pictures.

"They're moving!" he whispered in awe.

Harry laughed and looked at the book. "Wizards develop pictures in a special potion, that way they can move."

"Potion?!" he whispered in awe. Harry nodded with a smile. A long stretched out "whoa" was all Dudley could manage to produce. He continued to look around Harry's room, and he then spotted Harry's Firebolt. "Is that-is that a broomstick?" Harry nodded again and laughed. "You mean you actually fly it?" Harry nodded again, and began heading to the door, Dudley reluctantly following.

Breakfast at number four private drive was probably one of the most enjoyable ones Harry had ever had there, he actually had someone to talk to. Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Harry were all surprised when Dudley asked in a completely normal voice, if they had gotten Harry a gift for his birthday. When they decided to ignore Dudley's question, Dudley was about to begin again, but Harry convinced him not to in an undertone.

Harry spent his day with Dudley doing various activities: football, basketball, and playing on his Game Boy and computer. It was the most fun Harry could ever remember having at Number 4, and for the first time, he had someone to enjoy his time with. While playing with the football, the two teens got onto the subject of their lives and school. Harry ended up telling Dudley his life story of when he found out he was a wizard. When Harry mentioned how much he hated have been famous, Dudley was totally surprised. Of all people, Dudley always would have thought Harry to be the least famous. Before Harry knew it, his spilling out everything, and for the first time since he had spoken about Voldemort's return other than when her had told Dumbledore and Sirius. He felt almost relieved to have finally got it out of him, especially, for some odd reason, to Dudley. By the end of Harry's story, Dudley was in a state of complete shock.

"What?" said Harry, as though what he had just said happened to every teenage boy.

"Harry," Dudley began, totally dumbstruck. "You've - you've done all those things, and not once have you brought them up. Most people would be bragging, but you haven't mentioned a word.

"Well, if you really want to know, I just don't feel that proud of it. Yeah at some points I feel a bit of pride for saving Ginny and defeating Tom Riddle and the Basilisk, and from preventing Quirrel from getting the stone for Voldemort, but after causing Cedric's death-" Harry was cut off by Dudley, and Harry couldn't help but be surprised by Dudley's response-words of comfort.

"Don't say that Harry," Dudley said sternly. "It's not your fault Cedric died, it's V-Voldemort's." Harry was also surprised that Dudley was somewhat frightened to say Voldemort's name. Of course,, almost every witch and wizard alive were afraid to say his name, but he had never known a muggle being afraid to say it. "Don't blame yourself for his death Harry. I know it must be hard to, but there was nothing you could've done to stop it. By the sound of it, it seems that whatever Voldemort says goes, and no one can stop it whether they want to or not." Dudley had said it so simply, and Harry knew he was right, but he still felt guilty for it.

"But I was the one who said we should-" Harry tried to argue, but was again cut off by Dudley.

"No Harry, no buts. You should be proud of everything you've done. I bet they're aren't a lot of witches or wizards who can duel with Vol- well, You-Know-Who.

Harry was cheered up a bit. Not only had Dudley helped assure him it wasn't his own fault, but he had gone to saying "You-Know-Who" instead of Voldemort, which Harry found quite amusing.

"Thanks, Dudley," Harry said. "You know, your not the first to call him that. I only know three people other than myself that actually refer to him by his name."

"Really?" Dudley asked, very surprised. "Is he that terrifying? Who are the people you know that say his name?" he asked.

"Well, for one there's Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of my school. He's an amazing wizard. Dumbledore's the only one that Voldemort is actually afraid of. There's also my godfather, Sirius Black. Him and my father were best friends before he died. And there's also Remus Lupin. He was also friends with my dad and Sirius.

"Hmmm," said Dudley, screwing his face up in concentration. "They all sound familiar, except for the last guy you mentioned.

"You probably remember Dumbledore from when Hagrid-the huge man that came to take me from your parents- got me. I'm pretty sure he said something about Dumbledore at some point. And, well, remember a few years back when everyone was on the look out for that man that killed 13 people and escaped from prison? Well, that's Sirius," Harry said, though hastily adding " he didn't actually commit the crime though! He was framed."

"Whoa," was all Dudley managed to say on the subject. "Oh yeah," he added brightly after a few moments. "I was wondering, do you think I could come jogging with you in the mornings? I understand if you don't want me to, but I was just thought if you don't mind. I wana actually get more fit. And we could start to get to know each other." Dudley said it quickly, almost nervously. Harry had been going for jogs every morning, he was sick of being the pale thin boy at school, he wanted to actually look good went he went back. He gave himself a break that morning for his birthday, but he was proud to notice that he had a noticeable tan, and his muscles were noticeable, especially on his legs. He was also doing push-ups and sit-ups, and his abs were definitely beginning to show.

"Well, yes that's fine with me, but I do get up early. And I don't know whether you parents would want you coming with me. They'd probably think I'd transfigure you into something." Harry said, slightly recovering from the thought of Dudley wanting to exercise.

"Don't worry about them," said Dudley happily. " As long as I want to they'll let me.

After being outside for so long, Harry and Dudley decided to go back into the house for some lunch. After spending some more of their time playing with the various things, they were finally called down for supper. They practically flew down the steps. They were starving.

When Harry reached the bottom of the stairs, he though he had almost fainted. At his doorway, were nine people he was completely shocked to see. Standing just in from the door was Mr. Weasley, Fred, George, Ginny, Charlie, Ron, and, at first Harry didn't even her, Hermione.