DISCLAIMER: We do not in any way shape or form own Harry Potter or any other licensed or trademarked items that may happen to be present in this story. as sad as that may be...
Authors Note: First of all, I'd like to thank me dear friend and brilliant co-writer without whom this story couldn't have been possible as my writing skills are abysmal at their best. A Great BIG Thank you to the Lovely Kusanosakura. second, this all came about from me wanting to read something and not being able to find it. soooo we took it upon ourselves to write it. It's new and definitely different. but I hope you'll like it just as much as I do. Thank You
Chapter one
Apparently, wanting to know what was going on in the world was a crime.
Every time he wrote to Sirius, Hermione or Ron they brushed him off, told him not to worry about it or said they couldn't say in case the owl went astray.
The Daily Prophet was about useless with its feverous insistence that Voldemort wasn't back which was spoon-fed to them by Ministry.
He got sick or letters saying they were 'busy' and couldn't talk.
Hadn't he showed that he could handle things? He was a Triwizard Champion, he duelled Voldemort, he beat a basilisk and even beat the professors' chambers to find the philosophers stone.
He was a bit miffed at the whole thing.
Of course he was lying under a window to hear the Muggle news because hopefully they'd at lest mention anything strange...
The six o'clock news came to an end.
Aunt Petunia called out the opened window that was vainly attempting to make use of a non-existent breeze.
"Harry!"
Harry wiggled out of the flowerbed as silently as he could and dusted himself off.
"Yes?"
Aunt Petunia's nose wrinkled, "What were you doing napping in the dirt? Dudley's manners are better then that."
Harry sighed, "It's so hot that the closer you are to ground the cooler it is."
"Go call,"
Petunia's words were drowned out by a loud noise like a gunshot.
Harry knew that noise; it sounded an awful lot like Apparating.
Who could it be? An Order come to tell him when he'd finally get to go stay with Sirius?
Petunia hissed, "What did you do?"
Harry frowned, "I didn't do anything."
Honestly he was getting sick of being accused of things all the time.
It started when he was young with Dudley accusing him of stealing his food...
Then it progressed to whatever mess Dudley made and blamed on him until the day it became quite clear he'd never do anything right.
Getting good marks ended up in arguments about his being a cheater or trying to unset his cousin. She his effort into school declined.
It wasn't until last year during the tournament that he actually tried to work on his studies seriously. Without Ron to distract him he had decent Marks. Nothing like Hermione but he did better then usually.
He actually managed to brew a few potions well enough that Snape was quiet, no insults but no compliments either. Which probably meant he did all right...
He hated being treated like a liar, a cheater and a thief...
You could act like a good boy and no one bought it.
If he was such a perfect Gryffindor why did the Hat want to put him in Slytherin.
"Don't like to me boy." Petunia snapped.
"I'm not lying! I didn't do anything." He held out his hands, "I haven't got any sort of noisemaker."
"Fine! Don't go getting up to mischief. Go fetch Dudley for dinner; he's at Mrs. Polkiss'. They had him over for tea."
Harry nodded putting his hands in his pockets.
One thing was for sure Dudley most certainly didn't spend tea at a different mate's house every day of summer break.
Dudley spent his days beating up primary school kids for money and smoking on street corners.
Apparently his cousin had won some prestigious boxing match. Brilliant just let a bully get praised for being able to throw a hamfisted punch. Well he must have had some use for having served as Dudley's punching bag for eleven years.
Harry ambled Privet Drive towards the park he knew that he knew was frequented by Dudley and his 'gang.'
He found them but they were exiting the park by the Magnolia road entrance.
Since he'd come for no real reason he didn't see a need to actually call out to his cousin.
So he just trotted along behind him boredly, snatches of their conversation floating back to him.
It was rather boring since it was about some poor kid Dudley and his gang beat up.
Since he didn't want to be the next target he said nothing.
The group split up halfway down Magnolia Road, by the time Dudley reached Magnolia Crescent he was alone. Dudley was clearly hungry because he was already hurrying his whale sized frame.
It wasn't until they neared the alley that led to Wisteria Walk that Harry sensed trouble.
Month of them hovering around Hogwarts and you get to sense them.
Dementors...
What were Dementors doing in Little Whinging?
Harry wasn't skilled at 'Harry hunting' for no reason, he darted in front of Dudley and tugged his wand out.
"Dudley get down and close your mouth."
Dudley growled, "Get out of my way freak! I'll be late for dinner."
Harry scanned the area with a frown, "This is my world here. A monster is here Dudley the sort of monster that eats souls. I know you don't much care about me but have a thought for yourself, it will kill you if I let it. Personally, I'd rather not be accused of killing you."
Then cold filled the alley from both ends, a thick fog condensed around them. The indigo sky that was just beginning to shimmer with stars as they'd walked was blotted out like the shadow cast by a giant had fallen over them.
Harry hissed "Back against the wall Dudley. Cover your mouth Don't open it! What ever you do don't open it!"
Dudley didn't argue with him, the fact that he was pointing his wand away form him probably had something to do with it.
"You know stories about grim reapers and boogie men? That's what's causing this. So stay still."
Harry heard the Dementor's take long deep breaths, which he remembered from Remus' lectures that were their way of tasting a prospective victim.
"Hang the Restriction on Underage sorcery!" Harry muttered, "Lumos."
The wand light up so bright that that Harry quickly realized that there were two Dementors just like he suspected.
"I don't think you can see them but I know you can feel them. Stay behind me. I'll keep them away."
Harry closed his eyes and selected his memory of Sirius inviting him to live with him.
He yelled, "Expecto Patronum!"
His stag leapt at the first with his horns up and tossed it into the air before whirling and landing hooves first in the other Dementor's chest.
It writhed and screamed which was more like a loud sucking sound before it seemed to smoke.
Pinned the ground by a Patronus it couldn't free itself and the light from Patronus apparently managed to kill it, leaving nothing but a scrap of rotting black fabric.
The stag looked bored.
Harry had an inspiration, "Find Padfoot. Tell him that there were Dementors in Little Whinging. I'm alright for now."
The stag bowed and then leapt into the air.
The sky, stars and street lamps at the ends of the alley had popped back to life. They had always been there just beyond the foggy island of cold dark despair. the sight of them was like the promise of heaven.
Dudley had slid down the wall and was shivering, his hands still clamped to his mouth.
Then their neighbour and Harry's sometime babysitter Ms. Figg ran into the alley panting
She looked panicked, her grey hair falling form its hairnet and her tartan carpet slippers were half off her feet. Clutched in her hand was string shopping bag
Harry let out a pent up breath and began to slip his wand back into his back pocket.
She hissed at him, "No! Mo, Don't put it away! There might be more of them. I told Albus not to hire him. He's unreliable. Mundungus is nothing more than a sneaky thief."
Harry frowned at her, "Who?"
"Fletcher is your Order Bodyguard. You think that Albus would leave you with You-Know-Who around without protection. Really leaving you to my care? Over a bunch of cauldrons that just happened to fall off a broom! You're more important then a handful of sickles. I'm going to beat him or better yet, feed him to my cats I will. Come along we've got to get you out of sight." Ms. Figg said wringing her hands.
Harry blinked at her but turned to Dudley, "The monsters are gone. It's okay to breathe now."
Dudley was looking a bit ill and blue in the face.
Dudley was shaking as he unwrapped his huge arms from his face and took in great wheezing breaths.
Harry held out a hand, "Come on. In case the one that got away decides to come back lets get out of here."
"To find a more defensible position." Dudley gasped.
Harry stared at him.
"I pay Warcraft!" Dudley growled, "I know that you don't want to get trapped in a place like this. Seriously, what a team to fight monsters with: a wizard, a cat lady armed with a shopping bag filled with tin cans of cat food and me."
Harry snickered, "What would your parents say if they knew you played a game like that."
"They shouldn't have bought me a computer for school." Dudley retorted weakly. "Everyone plays it at school. Sort of like what is that game you play?"
"Quidditch it's played on a broom and I play for my House." Harry said dully.
The three unlikely companions made their way to Ms. Figg's at Number 7.
It was filled with cats that at closer glance reminded Harry of Crookshanks so they must be part Kneazel.
"I'm not a witch Harry, I don't know what to do." Ms. Figg said wringing her hands.
"Chocolate." Harry said frowning, "That's what Remus gave us it has a calming affect.
"I can't have chocolate because Snowy's allergic to it and she adores it."
Sighing Harry called out, "Dobby?"
Not even sure if the elf could hear him.
It took two minutes for the elf to appear.
Dobby appeared and grinned, "Master Harry Potter sir be calling Dobby? How can Dobby help Harry Potter sir?"
Dudley let out a girly scream making everyone else look at him oddly.
"We had a bit of a run in with Dementors. Would there be anyway we could get chocolate?" Harry asked.
Dobby grinned, "Dumbledore buy Dobby chocolate with his wages. Dobby gladly share."
The elf disappeared with a pop.
Harry nodded, "I knew I heard the crack of apparition before."
"I told you that was Mundungus. He's never been very quiet about his Apparating. He likes to make an entrance and an exit. Useless fool."
Dobby came back with a large bar of chocolate.
Harry accepted it gratefully and broke off half for Dudley, "Since it's made the Muggle way I'm sure it's safe. I know Colin gave some to his dad before."
Dudley stared at the chocolate.
Harry smirked taking an indecently large bite, "See? It's not poisoned."
"What's that?" Dudley stammered.
"I is being Dobby. You is Master Harry Potter's cousin. Master Harry Potter sir is the greatest of wizards and is very kind. Dobby is a house elf. A free house elf. I is liking being paid. Dobby hasn't many friends. Dobby is odd amoung his kind."
Harry sighed, "Just eat the chocolate Dudley."
Dudley, who never met a sweet he didn't like tore into the chocolate and moaned. "This is the best I've ever eaten."
Harry smirked, "I know."
Ms. Figg's door opened and the strong smell of alcohol and sweat filled the room.
A short man in a ragged overcoat with bandy legs entered, an invisibilty cloak over his arm.
He was swaying.
"Wot's up Figgy?"
Ms. Figg got in his face, "Dementors you loysy sneak thief! I told you not to leave your post. Now your charge is in a lot of trouble no doubt! Dementors. If you'd been here then you could have dealt with them an saved Harry the trouble."
"Ain't you the cousin?"
Dudley sneered, "Yeah, what's it to you?"
"Ya cast magic in front of him?"
Harry snorted. "It may be a violation of the Decree against Underage Sorcery but it's hardly that bad. I probably saved his life. Dudley already knows about magic because he knows I'm a wizard."
Dudley nodded, "Yeah."
"You go do something useful and go tell Dumbledore."
Mundungus stormed out
A large tawny owl flew in Ms. Figg's open window.
It landed on Harry's shoulder and stuck its leg out.
Harry had a sickening feeling as he opened it.
Dear Mr. Potter,
We have received intelligence that you performed the Patronus Charm at twenty-three minutes past nine this evening in a Muggle-inhabited area and in the presence of a Muggle.
The severity of this breach of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery has resulted in your expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ministry representatives will be calling at your place of residence shortly to destroy your wand.
As you have already received an official warning for a previous offence under Section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy, we regret to inform you that your presence is required at a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic at 9 a.m. on the twelfth of August.
Hoping you are well,
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk Improper Use of Magic Office Ministry of Magic
Harry blinked at the comment about his wand. He looked at Dobby. "I know you aren't allowed to have one. But take my wand to Sirius Black. I'd rather be without it then give it up to be snapped. I don't care what anyone says the Ministry isn't getting my wand."
Dobby swallowed nervously, "You know they'll kill Dobby if they find out."
"Who would tell? We've got a Muggle, a squib and an expelled wizard." Harry snarled. "Besides you owe me. It's your fault I got my room turned into a jail cell. You know you're the one who destroyed Aunt Petunia's crystal bowl."
Dobby wrung his long fingered hands. "Dobby take it but Dobby not touch it."
Harry tugged off his sweat and dirt stained t-shirt, "Keep that." He wrapped the wand in it, "Hurry!"
Dobby disappeared with a soft pop.
Dudley frowned, "that's not right! You got expelled for protecting me! You saved your own life. It's self-defense! I know I'm not very bright but even I know that you can defend yourself. Is this because you might of killed one?"
Harry snorted, "They're just mad because I used Magic in front of you."
"I already know about magic! That stupid giant man of a man gave me a pigs tail." Dudley huffed, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes and frowned at Ms. Figg, "Do you mind?"
She shrugged, "It's not illegal and you need to cool off."
Dudley lit it and then handed it to Harry, "You need it too. Start with small breaths. Don't breathe too deep at first."
Harry took it, he stared at it a moment before he took a puff. He let out a sigh, "Damn, that feels nice."
"You try living as mum's pet. It's sick all her babyish nicknames. It's like I'm a dog or something. They don't know anything about me. You know what's funny? I'm not great at academics but I'm a whiz with computers. I'm designing my own games. I don't want to work for Dad at Grunions but I want to make video games."
"I don't know what I want to do years from now. I know it's fifth year and I'm supposed to know but I don't. Not yet."
They were starting to relax when the next owl arrived.
Harry opened it with a sigh, letting out the smoke he'd just inhaled.
Harry -
Dumbledore's just arrived at the Ministry and he's trying to sort it all out. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE. DO NOT DO ANY MORE MAGIC. DO NOT SURRENDER YOUR WAND.
Arthur Weasley
He snorted. "Already did. just not to them. I hate the lot of them." He crumbled the letter and threw it. he glared at the owl, "No reply. Dumbledore'll sort it out? Hah! Lock me up all summer and leave me here for first time in four years for my birthday and tell me to hang on? I'm sick of this. 'Keep your nose clean Harry. Stay out of trouble Harry' Like Sirius would be a good boy and stay out of trouble! Sirius is innocent and Dumbledore didn't even try to get him off! If they have their wands it's got to be simple to check who blew up a fucking street!"
"Well you better be heading back. Dudley's parents will be worried sick it's past dinner."
The two boys sighed and left the house. They both stared at Number Four with surprisingly equal loathing.
"You know when I have kids I won't spoil them. A guy wants a dad to tell him what he can't do, to tell him about rules and stuff. I've seen what sort of parents my friends have and I'm jealous. Mine just give me stuff and praise me but I don't think they really know me." Dudley muttered.
Harry chuckled, "You? With kids?"
Dudley coughed, "There is a girls school near mine. There is this really nice girl I've met through socials. I started boxing to get in shape. I'm a bit embarrassed about it."
"What if you have a magical kid?"
Dudley shrugged, "Not tell mum. I'd probably try to find you and get you to help. I'm... sort of sorry for being an arse to you. You saved my life from the dements..."
"Dementors." Harry corrected.
"Dementors." Dudley echoed. "I know I've been horrible but I don't think you're a waste of space anymore. I only picked on your because I was jealous you were smart and the teachers praised you. the only class I did better in was Phys Ed."
Harry smirked, "Only because you made sure I was picked last."
They reluctantly crossed the street and made their way inside.
"Diddy?"
Dudley winced, "Hi mum. Is there any dinner left?"
"You're late! Harry! Didn't we send you fetch him?"
Harry opened his mouth to speak.
"I talked to long with my friends. Harry tried to hurry me up but I ignored it. by the time I realized it was this late something bad happened."
Uncle Vernon threw Harry to the ground, "What did you do to my son?"
Dudley did something unexpected, "Get off him!" he threw his father down the hall, then leaned over and held out his hand, "You okay Harry Monsterslayer?"
His mother stared at him like he'd grown two heads.
"I'm used to it Big D." Harry shrugged. realizing he was shirtless, he awkwardly missed his shirt it would have protected him a bit and cushioned his fall.
"It's not right." He grumbled. "When I said something bad happened that doesn't mean Harry did it." Dudley was standing between his parents and Harry. "There were these monsters that attacked us on the way home. Harry saved me! I couldn't see them but they were scary. They blotted out the sky; I couldn't even see my own hand. Then Harry pulled out his wand and told me to stay back. The monster would have sucked out my soul. Harry saved me and he even killed one of the Monsters. It was like being dropped in a frozen pond at night. It was cold and dark. It felt like all my happiness was being drained. Sort of like vampire drinks blood."
"You saved my Dudders from a Dementor?" Aunt Petunia gasped.
Harry stared at her like he'd never see her before, "You know about Dementors?"
"What's a Demendor."
The three spoke as one, "Dementor."
"I heard - that awful boy - telling her about them - years ago," she said jerkily looking apologetically at Uncle Vernon. "They didn't get your...soul did they?"
Dudley snorted, "Of course not! Harry told me to shut up and cover my mouth. They didn't get within five feet of us. I didn't see them but I saw the shiny ghost deer thingy."
Harry blinked, "You can't see Dementors but you saw my patronus?"
"I saw dark smoke coming from the spots where the deer thing attacked. I think it tossed the first into the air and the other it tackled to the ground." Dudley frowned.
"So what's..."
An owl flew through the window.
Harry snarled, "Not another one! Jerks. I'm surprised they haven't shown up yet. Morons at the Ministry! You'd think they'd actually investigate. They let me off last time! but Noooo, just because I said You Know Who returned, I'm the bad guy!"
He tore open the letter.
Dear Mr. Potter,
Further to our letter of approximately twenty-two minutes ago, the Ministry of Magic has revised its decision to destroy your wand forthwith. You may retain your wand until your disciplinary hearing on the twelfth of August, at which time an official decision will be taken.
Following discussions with the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Ministry has agreed that the question of your expulsion will also be decided at that time. You should therefore consider yourself suspended from school pending further enquiries.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk Improper Use of Magic Office Ministry of Magic Dudley peered over his shoulder reading with him.
"Idiots! So now you're 'suspended' not expelled. You save our lives and they want to punish you? What are they trolls?"
"You know Big D if you had an ounce of magic you'd make a fine member of my quest."
Dudley punched him in the shoulder grinning, "I'd take you any day."
Aunt Petunia looked scandalised.
Vernon's face was so purple it looked like his head would explode.
Another owl, it looked like Ron's Pig the tiny owl was so ADD it was insane. He caught the owl in his fist and took the letter.
"What now?" Vernon snapped. "I'm sick of these damn owls."
Dobby just told us what's happened. What were you thinking giving up your wand to a house elf? Especially at a time like this? Don't leave the house again, whatever you do.
Then Harry looked at the owl. It winked at him.
It wasn't Pig at all.
"Well...you should eat." Petunia stammered.
"Yeah come on Harry." Dudley said slinging a fan arm on his shoulder.
They ate a strained dinner.
The adults looked like they were in another world.
Petunia was clearly in shock and Vernon looked apoplectic.
Dudley dished himself and Harry decent plates of food. Technically, he gave Harry half his normal portion.
Which made them even more visibly upset.
"Hey Harry does your lot have old-fashioned notions about saving someone's life? We learned about it in Anthropology. It used to be believed that is you saved a life you owned them until they saved yours and you were even or something."
Harry shrugged, "I don't know. I've saved a few people and no one mentioned it before."
"You remember Dwayne and Eli who were a few years ahead of us in school?"
"Yeah." Harry said between bites.
"Remember that big fight they had during recess and then they were best friends?" Dudley said after a swallow of milk.
"Yeah why?"
"That's you and me. only you saved my life or at least my soul. You're a decent bloke. Don't let them kick you out of Hogwarts. You're happy there and you've got friends. You actually do your homework. I bet you could do anything you wanted if you want. Maybe you should teach those idiots a lesson."
Harry was thoughtful. "That might be fun. You know Dudley you might have an idea. Paint me into a corner and see what I do. Cage me and poke me with sticks I'll lash out."
The cousins ate dinner and wandered up stairs.
"I've got two things of chocolate you want one?"
"Is it like the chocolate the elf had?"
Harry nodded, "Two huge boxes."
Dudley grinned, "Diet or no diet I can't say no to chocolate."
Harry pulled him into his dreary room and popped up the loose floorboard. He pulled out one of the boxes of chocolate he was sent for his birthday.
"Consider it a late birthday present and a thanks for standing up for me." Harry handed it over.
"Where do you get them?"
"From Honeydukes. I'll buy you some before I head home next June."
"Can't you send me some for Christmas or Easter?" Dudley whinged
"In some ways you haven't changed at all, still whinging for sweets."
"Felt bad that day. You looked so out of place without anything. I did it on purpose 'case mum wouldn't get you anything."
"Huh?"
"The Knickerbocker Glory." Dudley chuckled. "Consider it eleven years of birthday cake."
"What?"
"I was embarrassed you weren't getting anything so a made a stink about not having enough ice cream. What did I get for my trouble? A pig's tail."
"Can Dobby talk now?"
Harry smirked, "You still an owl?"
The house elf smirked, "No.' he changed back, "They're going get you tomorrow night. Dobby overheard them arguing after Dobby handed over the thing." Dobby shivered. "Your Padfoot was gonna kill Dobby. If Hermy hadn't said Dobby was a friend they would have. Dobby hand over thing. They start yelling. Dobby tell that Master Harry Potter give it over for safekeeping. They yell more. Then they decide you must be taken tomorrow.
"About freaking time. They're late this year. Some friends. I've heard more from Hermione then Ron. Ron's keeps trying to sound important but Hermione sounds upset she can't talk. My birthday present was writing in Hermione's handwriting. It said from Ron and Hermione but it wasn't. Ron actually forgot my birthday after I forgave him for his abandoning me and calling me a cheater last year. I 'save' him from the Black Lake and he calls me an idiot. What a waste of time that was."
"So he's leaving tomorrow? What time?"
"Dinner?" Dobby offered. "Having issues trying to figure how to get them out of the house."
Dudley smirked tapping his box of chocolate, "Tell them I'll handle it. I'll start a hue and cry about waiting to eat out. They won't want to believe tonight happened or that we're friends. Clean up this mess Harry. I'll bring you the spare key to your lock in the morning, as Dad's going to want to lock you in. Make sure you eat decent. We studied the effects of anorexia in health class. Sorry Harry I didn't realize the health issues of missing meals before. That's why I try to leave extra. if I'd known Jasmine before I'd have stuck to the diet the school nurse put me on. I'm just eating less and trying to get exercise. I don't exactly beat up kids, I challenge their elder brothers to street fights. I'm not beating up little kids. That boxing match I won the guy was out cold for over half an hour. If I punched a kid I'd probably kill them."
Harry sighed, "Pack? Is getting out of here tomorrow what are they getting at? Leaving me locked up and kept in the dark with regards to what's going on and now they'll let me out? No offence Dudley but this house is hell."
"That's why I'm going to tutoring after school and I'm in study groups. I'm going to go to college so I can get away from this house." Dudley nodded.
"Dobby tell that Mister Dudley get the weird mean Muggles out."
"Thanks Dobby. Tell them I'd really like some answers."
"Well I'm going to turn in. Between the fight and the Dementor I'm beat. Have a good summer Harry and make sure you get off clean. You need me, you know when I'll be."
"Doubt they'll listen to a Muggle. They tend to dislike and not trust you."
"So did you. But you saved me." Dudley retorted.
"Good point Big D."
"Night."
Harry was left alone.
He and Dudley were friends, he was suspended from Hogwarts and he was going to be taken away tomorrow?
The world seemed very tilted right now...