A/N: This fic was inspired by and set in the AU of Valandar's 'A Better Man'.
Disclaimer: I own nada! (Sob!!)
A Better Man:Epilogue
"Slytherin!!"
"Nuh-uh!Gryffindor!"
"Slytherin!!"
"Alright boys! That's enough, James run along now! Al, a word please." said a tall man, in his late 30's with messy black hair and shocking green eyes, kneeling down to look at a 11-year old version of himself.
The broad (no-one would be as uncharitable as to call him fat), muscular man next to them laughed. "Reminds you of us at that age don't they, Harry?" Dudley Dursely said, his eyes dancing with mirth.
"Aunt Petunia thinks we haven't aged at all, behaviour-wise at least." smirked Harry, who'd just finished reassuring Al on the matter of houses, glancing at his cousin. After graduating Dudley had worked as a policeman for a few years, before enlisting and being accepted into the Royal Marines. Here his exposure to magic led to his being part of a top secret unit of mixed Muggles and Wizards, tasked with gathering intelligence on suspected magical influences on military coups or rebellions around the world. A blown operation had led to injuries that, though healed completely thanks to magic, made Dudley decide to retire from military life, with a full and honourable discharge.
Within a month, Hogwarts' Headmistress Minerva McGonagall ('Aunt Minerva' to both men) had offered Dudley not only the post once occupied by his father, Vernon, that of Muggle Studies Professor, when the previous one retired, but also the newly instituted post of Professor of Non-magical Defence, the second Muggle since the afore mentioned Vernon to take up a post at Hogwarts. Both men's close friend and Harry's fellow Auror Ron Weasley had joked about the post becoming hereditary. Whatever the case, the ex-Sergeant Major now found himself on platform 9 3/4, telling his nephew to come to him if his brother gave him any trouble.
"Just don't come by when Aunt Parvati sends you some chocolates, He's on a diet, he is." said Joanna Dursely walking up with the Weasleys and the rest of the Potters who laughed at Dudley's indignant expression. Ginny had become a head Healer at St. Mungo's while Hermione Granger-Weasley was renowned in the annals of student gossip as the first person to ever write an interesting Potions or History of Magic textbook.
"Dad, why are people staring?" asked Hugo, the Weasleys' youngest. He'd been depressed about not joining his sister Rose and the rest at Hogwarts, that is until he realized his best friend, Lily Potter was also not joining Hogwarts till next year.
"It's because I'm famous!" said his Dad. Though it was true the Weasleys were famous not only for their contributions during 'The War' as it was now called, but also being descendants of Godric Gryffindor, the grown ups had made sure the kids had had a normal childhood, well as normal as could be with magic a fact of life within the three families.
"We'll see you at Hogwarts for Christmas,. We'll pick up Vernon and Matthais from Smeltings after a stop at Privet Drive to get your mum." Harry told Dudley, referring to Dudley's two sons, both of whom were Muggles. The men were saying their goodbyes after the Express' whistle had interrupted James' sudden appearance and his rant about Teddy Lupin and Victoire Weasley 'snogging the daylights out of each other'.
"Thanks and tell everyone else they're welcome to pop up too. House-elves included. Take care." Dudley said, leaning out of the carriage. Privet Drive had become like a second Hogsmeade, with all the second generation Weasleys settling there, not counting the presence of the Lupins.
"Take care! Keep an eye out for Hedwig!" yelled Harry who stood waving till the Hogwarts Express was out of sight. He turned and faced the remaining trio of adults with a smile," Let's go home. I think Aunt Petunia said something about Shepherd's Pie tonight"