Author's Note: Hello all! Before we dive into the story, I just wanted to say a couple of quick things. First, I apologize for the typos and spelling errors you might encounter. I typed this up on my gaming laptop...aka, my laptop without any spell-checking document editors. I typically re-read each chapter before uploading the next, so it should get cleaned up soon. Second, my great thanks to the wonderful Rowling who's characters I am temporarily commandeering. I hope you enjoy the read! ~TJ
Title: Merigold's Gift
Summary: When Dudley Dursley shows up on the doorstep to Harry's flat some twenty years after the two had parted at #4 Privet Drive, Harry is confused and just a little angry. But when Dudley confesses his fears that his young daughter might be a witch, Harry agrees to let his cousin back in his life. Can the two find reconciliation after so many years of hurt and misunderstanding? And how will Dudley react to Harry's partner, Draco Malfoy? Come meet Merigold...
Rating: T - This story contains language and suggestions of violence. (As this story progresses, I might change the rating to M, most likely for language use. I will give fair-warning, though, if that happens.)
CHAPTER ONE: Meeting Merigold
The doorbell rang. Once...twice...
"Harry? Can you get that?" came a voice from the kitchen.
"What?" Harry replied sleepily, stretching as he sat up on the couch. The doorbell rang again. "Oh, right. Door."
Harry stood up and pulled the sash of his bathrobe tight around his waist. He hadn't meant to doze off, but he was so very tired. He pushed his glasses up his nose and headed to the door of his flat.
The doorbell rang a fourth time.
"I'm coming!" Harry called to the door, slighly irritated. Reaching out, he undid the bolt and pulled open the door. "He..."
Harry's greeting died on his tongue as he stared at the blonde man standing in front of him. It took Harry two tries before he could make a sound. "...Dudley?"
"Hello Harry," Dudley said awkwardly, not quite looking Harry in the eye. "I wouldn't be here...I mean, I wouldn't have come...it's just, I have my daughter to think about now."
Still confused by the appearance of his cousin, Harry was further taken aback by the word 'daughter.' And then he saw her. Little hands clutched at Dudley's pants leg and a bright blue eyes peeked around under a wisp of blonde hair the same shade as her father's. Though he could not see her well, Harry could guess she was no more than 5 years old.
"What are you doing here?" Harry asked, running a nervous hand through his tousled, black hair. He hadn't seen his cousin since the two had parted ways at #4 Privet Drive so many years before. Looking his cousin over now hinted at how the years had treated Dudley. He was certainly no longer the "Big-D" Harry had once known. He had lost a considerable amount of weight and his eyes seemed haunted. His clothes, though untorn or stained, were wrinkled, and a distinct smell suggested he hadn't showered in a few days.
Dudley seemed to mull over Harry's question, unsure of how to answer. Finally, as if deciding to get the worst part over as quickly as possible, Dudley spoke quickly. "I can't feed my daughter. I've lost my job, my house, and I've used up all of the savings I had left."
"Oh." What else could Harry say?
"I wouldn't have come if I wasn't desparate."
The two stood in silence for a long while. In another life Harry might have smiled, opened the door wide, and welcomed his long-lost cousin inside. But somehow, with how things were in this life, that response could not happen.
"Please, Harry," Dudley finally spoke, pleading.
"Why not go to your parents?" Harry could feel the coldness of his reply, but the appearance of Dudley had brought back all the painful memories of his past. Staring at Dudley, he forgot about the little girl tugging at her fathers clothes.
"They're dead."
Surprised, Harry raised his eyebrows. Dead? Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were dead. He let the idea sink in and wondered if he should feel sad. He didn't feel anything, really.
And then he heard it. A small, timid voice below him. "Daddy, I'm hungry," the voice insisted.
Harry sighed, and opened the door wide. "Come in, then. We were just about to have breakfast."
The look of relief on Dudley's face stung Harry. He didn't like to be so cold, but he had been taken off guard. Stepping aside to let his cousin and the little girl into the flat, he couldn't help the curiousity that was bubbling inside of him now that the initial shock was fading away.
"What's her name?" Harry asked first after closing the door and turning around.
"This is Merigold. Say hi to Harry, dear," Dudley instructed.
Harry nearly snorted at the word 'dear.' There was something profoundly weird about seeing Dudley as a father. But Harry held back his amusement and bent down to meet Merigold's height.
"Hello there, Merrigold." Harry smiled as the girl clutched even tighter to her father. Harry straightened back up, and motioned to the couch and chairs. "Breakfast will be ready soon, if you want to wait here. I'll go and make sure we have enough eggs cooking."
"Thank you." Dudley took Merigold's hand and led her to the couch, but before the two had hardly taken a step, a voice called out from the kitchen.
"Harry, darling, who was that at the door?"
Dudley turned to Harry just in time to see Harry's face flush a deep red. Confused, Dudley turned to the kitchen, his eyes opening wide in surprise.
A man stepped into the living room, shirtless with a mixing bowl in his hands. His white-blonde hair and pale skin contrasted sharply with the dark, satin-green lounge pants he wore low at his waist. Gray eyes scanned the room, almost with an air of boredom, and finally rested on Harry, then the two strangers.
"Draco, this is my cousin Dudley Dursley and his daughter Merigold. Dudley, this is Draco Malfoy..." Harry paused, a little unsure of himself, "...my husband."
Dudley didn't say a word. He just stood there, staring, at Draco first, and then back at Harry.
"Dudley?" Draco asked in a tone of amusement. He strolled foward, un-phased by Dudley's staring, and inspected the man. "The Dudley Dursley. You know, Harry once told me that I was the only person he hated more than you."
"I'm suprised he found someone to hate more," Dudley was finally able to respond.
Draco gave a short laugh. "Harry hardly ever mentions you. I wonder why it is that you've decided to grace us with your presence now, after all these years?"
"He needs money," Harry piped in before his cousin could respond.
"Naturally," Draco sneered at first, then smiled just a little too sweetly. "But, of course, Harry's much too nice to turn you away. Even you..."
"It's not money I need," Dudley tried to defend himself. "I mean, I suppose that's partly it. But it's my daughter that I'm here for. I could have gone other places for food - charities, churches..."
"Then why here?" Harry interrupted, feeling decidedly uneasy about the entire situation.
"Because I think she's like you."
"Like me?" Harry asked, confused.
"She...does things."
"Your cousin has a way with words," Draco said sarcastically.
"M-m-magical things," Dudley stuttered.
Harry stared and Draco raised his eyebrows, his curiousity peaked.
"What sort of magical things," Harry asked when Dudley did not continue.
Dudley's face contorted in thought. "It's hard to explain. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just imagining it from all the stress I've been dealing with. But she's constantly getting herself into trouble. The other day I found her high in a tree, and when I asked her how she had managed to climb the tree, all she would say was that a dog had chased her and she had jumped. But the tree was so high! And every once in a while I'll see things move..."
"Your cousin is insane," Draco interrupted.
"No, no, I'm not making this up!" Dudley turned to Harry. "You have to believe me!"
Harry frowned. A distant memory came to his mind. Dudley and his friends had chased him once and, somehow, he had found himself on the roof of the kitchens at school. He cringed at the memory of the beating that had come after. "I believe him."
Draco shrugged. "I just simply cannot imagine anything magical coming from him."
"Neither can I," Harry shook his head. "Would you mind adding two places to breakfast, Draco? They will at least stay for that."
"Very well." Draco turned and left the room, but not before throwing a suspicious look at their guest.
Once they were alone, Harry knelt down next to Merigold once again. "Your father tells me you can do special things. Do you think you can show me?"
Merigold looked up at Dudley, questioningly. Dudley hesitated for a moment, and then knelt down as well. "Go on, love, show Harry how you made Daddy a flower."
Merigold wrinkled her nose and held out one small hand in front of her. Nothing happened for such a long time that Harry wondered if this was all some weird joke. But then, slowly, something orange-ish shimmered in the air above the girl's palm. A few moments latter, the head of a merigold flower rested on her skin. Merigold laughed in excitement.
"Is she like you?" Dudley asked nervously.
"Yes. Your daughter is a witch."
A/N: Reviews are always appreciated! Let me know what you liked or what could be improved. And have a very splendid day, all you fanfic readers out there ;) ~TJ (SnapeIsNotEvil)