None of the characters belong to me (except for the ones that do!).

Chapter 1:Enter Dudley

"Breakfast, Potter!" came the not-so-friendly voice of Harry's Uncle Vernon as Harry got out of bed and groggily rushed downstairs to start preparing the sausages, eggs and toast for his family, if you could call them that.  Every morning seemed to be the same, with Harry's Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and cousin Dudley all sitting at the table waiting, while Harry (who they felt should earn his keep somehow) did the only thing that they were aware he was good at doing. Harry's family talked among themselves and tried to say as little to or about Harry as possible, just as they had every since Harry had been left to them after his parents had been brutally murdered by the evil Lord Voldemort some years ago. Only when there was some complaint did they ever address Harry during breakfast.  "These eggs are like rubber!" Dudley would say. Or "When will you get the toast right?" Aunt Petunia would yell. Harry had learned over the years to ignore them, as he was felt sure that he would never get anything right for them.

"So Harry," Dudley said excitedly, "How would you like to come and play a game of soccer with us today?" Aunt Petunia gasped and Uncle Vernon spilled coffee down the front of his shirt while the two of them looked at Dudley as though he was about to be disowned. Aunt Petunia rattled quickly," Now Dudders you wouldn't want to ruin your whole day by being in close proximity to his kind in public you know." " Just shut it Mum!" came Dudley 's unexpectedly blunt reply.  "Just because you and Dad don't want to grow up doesn't mean I am not going to. Harry is a part of this family and I for one am going to start acting like it whether either of you likes it or not." Both of the elder Dursleys gave each other a look of complete disbelief and then turned to Harry who, for the first time in his life, felt a great swell of hope that maybe this summer wouldn't be so horrible after all.

For a few minutes there was silence, then Dudley finally spoke again. "So how about it Harry? Will you come to meet my friends and play a game with us today?"  Harry considered that Dudley might just be trying to pull off a joke on him, but decided that anything would be better than spending all day, especially this day, in the house with a livid Aunt Petunia. "Sure Dudley, thanks, I would like that." He finally replied.

Chapter 2: Revelation

Harry and Dudley headed down Privet Drive towards the nearby park where Dudley met his friends almost every day.  When they arrived, Harry noticed that few other people were actually at the park.  He thought to ask Dudley what was going on, but then thought that he should at least give Dudley a chance since this was the first time he had ever seen Dudley away from his parents. Dudley looked at Harry and caught his eye. "You're likely wondering why I asked you here and why I seem to have had a change of heart, aren't you?"" Well err, yes" Harry replied. "Alright, I am not exactly sure, but I was hoping that you could help me. See, my friends have all but deserted me because they say I don't play well with others. They said that I was mean like mum and dad.  This is sort of my first step in changing that. We haven't ever even had a real conversation and I am sorry for that because it makes talking to you now even harder. I often hear mum and dad speaking about you when they're in bed and think that I can't hear them.  They talk about magic folks and how they are all evil.  They say they wouldn't have to put up with you if not for magic folk.  I need you to tell me about the things that they don't want me to know about." Harry looked at him suspiciously and asked, "How is my telling you about the world of magic going to help, Dudley?" "Well," Dudley replied somberly, "And you mustn't tell mum or dad, but last night I wondered what would happen if I tried to do something magical." Harry's eyes lit up at the sound of this.  "So I concentrated really hard on pulling my sock across the room. Harry, it worked! My very first try and it worked! I should have known that if we are related and you are a wizard, that I should have some magic in me, too."  "Slow down Dudley," Harry answered. "What are you saying? That you want me to try and teach you to do magic? Because I am not permitted to do magic outside of school."  "No," Dudley interrupted, "I want you to find a way for me to go back to your school with you!" Dudley beamed, and Harry felt suddenly sick.

Dudley added, "But mum and dad will have a fit. So they mustn't know until we're sure I can go."

Chapter 3: Why Not

Harry and Dudley walked home with Dudley asking Harry every question he could think of. Finally he got around to the one question that Harry hadn't managed to decide an answer, "Will you really try to help me get into Hogwart's, Harry?"  Just then Harry realizes that he would and gave Dudley a very emphatic "Yes!".

As they entered the house, Harry said nothing as usual and went directly to his room.  When he had closed his door, Hedwig, his pet owl hooted affectionately and he gave her several owl treats that she consumed greedily and quickly gave him another few hoots in appreciation. Harry went to his trunk and removed his quill along with ink and a small piece of parchment.  In his excitement, he didn't know what he should write or to whom.

After a few minutes of tossing around different people in his head though, he agreed he should go straight to the top. Dumbledore. So he began:

Dear Professor Dumbledore,

 

           I hope that you are enjoying the summer, and that you don't mind my writing to you like this.  Nothing is wrong, but I do need your help with something very serious.  My cousin Dudley has stumbled upon something that you may already know about. He has displayed some use of magic.  He even suggested that he should have realized that by being my blood relative, it stands to reason the he would have a magic bloodline.  Professor, he wants to come to Hogwart's in the fall.  I told him that I would try to help him, but I am uncertain what to do.  Could you please write to me with an answer as soon as possible? I also need to know how much is safe to tell him under these circumstances. 

                                                                                               Sincerely yours,

                                                                                               Harry Potter

Harry attached the letter to Hedwig's leg and sent her out the window, hoping for a speedy response.