Enlightenment must come little by little - otherwise it would overwhelm.
Idries Shah

…..

First you may want to re-read the first part of JKR's Deathly Hallows to refresh your memory of the Dursley's parting from Harry.

Second readers of my other fan-fics, especially Teddy, will recognize this Dudley. While I will keep to the spirit of my past work and will not counter any cannon JKR has uttered I may have some small discrepancies between what I have written in the past. Please bear with me, I'll do my best. But cross checking my past works too many times makes the muse fall asleep.

JKR has never said where the Dursley's were taken. But it had to be close enough for Diggle and Jones to attend meetings.

The Death Eaters raid Diggle's home and it is burned, according to cannon.

Well here we go!

UDUDUD

Dudley sat in the uncomfortable silence of the back of his dad's car, his mum beside him, the witch and wizard in the front with his dad.

They had only gone a few blocks when strange lights lit the sky and sounds, not unlike the special effects of his PS2 war games, could be heard.

The sounds had an immediate effect on the two magical members of their group. Pulling her wand, the witch began scanning the sky. "Dedalus we have to go back! They are in trouble!"

"Hestia you know we can't. Moody gave us clear instructions we have to get Harry's family to safety!"

"But what if Harry is in danger? What happens if he dies? He's our only hope! I can't sit idly by and not try to save him!"

All discussion was suddenly stopped as a large BANG explodes on top of the car. Instantly the witch lunged in to the back seat and grabbed Dudley's arm. Before he even had time to register the sound he felt a weird pulling sensation and found himself not in the car but in a tiny poorly lit room, the witch still holding his arm tightly.

"I demand you let go of me this instance!" Dudley's mum's strident voice cut through the darkness. "Dudleykins is momma's baby boy all right? This evil woman didn't hurt my precious boy did she?"

A pop interrupted Petunia. "WHAT'S THE MEANING OF THIS? I DEMAND YOU RETURN US TO OUR CAR IMMEDIATELY!" Vernon's angry shout filled the small room. The wizard's wand glowed and Dudley's dad looked like the fellows on TV did after you hit mute.

"What have you done to my husband?" Petunia took a deep breath but never got the chance to continue her tirade. The witch's wand glowed and she joined her husband forming words with no sound.

The wizard turned toward Dudley, one eyebrow raised. Big D raised his hands with a shrug as if to say 'I'm all right mate, no worries.'

"Hestia I need to go back to find out what happened. You know the drill if I'm not back in 15 min on to the next safe house. Will you be able to handle this lot?"

The witch nodded her lips a thin compressed line as she glowered at Mr. and Mrs. Dursley.

With a pop the wizard disappeared. 10 tense minutes followed. Dudley's mum and dad had finally given up the attempt to speak. The room was silent, the witch pacing her wand at the ready. "Dudley do you understand what has happened?" Her sudden question startled him.

He nodded and softly replied, "Something has gone terribly wrong. Do you think Harry is…dead?" Unknown to him tears began to run down his cheeks. Suddenly the change that had begun the awful night when he and Harry had been attacked by dementors became solid. He knew, without a doubt that he wanted his cousin to live. He wanted to have a chance to beg forgiveness and try to repair all the wrong he had done.

Before the witch could answer the wizard appeared with a pop. He was holding a familiar looking cage, inside was a white owl, a large hole in the center of its chest. "This is what hit the car."

Whatever the wizard planned to say next was erased by Dudley falling to his knees, a primal keening filling the air, as he clutched the cage to his chest. 'Oh my God! Harry's owl! Dead! That must mean he was too! No! No!' Dudley knew no more as his so recently awakened heart broke at the thought and blackness descended.

St Agnes exists in a contented time-warp, with a patchwork of small fields bordered by tall hedges, just like rural England of yesteryear. Dainty shops sell bulbs and postcards, and the pretty church commemorates one of the many ships that have come to grief on the rocks and reefs. A prayer on the wall reminds us of the harsh lives of previous generations, with its bitter-sweet message: "We pray Thee Lord, not that wrecks should happen, but if they do Thou wilt guide them to the Scilly Isles for the benefit of the poor inhabitants." - The independent, on-line, uk travel.

…

The next that Dudley knew he was in a soft comfortable bed the smell of sea and rich earth greeting his nose. He opened his eyes to see the head of his mum, lying on the coverlet beside him. He reached a hand toward her to smooth her unusually untidy hair.

Petunia sat up with a start. "Oh Dudleykins! Your awake! VERNON! VERNON! Get the doctor! Dudley is awake!"

A kind older country doctor soon was ushered in by Dudley's dad and the witch. After listening to his heart and checking his reflexes he pronounced the patient well enough to get out of bed. "You've had quite a shock young man. I don't need to tell you that you are in no shape to put added stresses on yourself. But while you are here with us, with your help, I intend for you to get fit enough to celebrate the coming time when that cousin of yours defeats he-who-must-not-be-named!"

Waves of realization poured over Dudley, first this man must be a wizard, and second Harry was alive!

So began my Fan fiction "Uncle Dudley". Seems dear Dudleykins wants' to tell about about what happened that year they were in hiding, so welcome to:

'Little by little – Dudley Dursley's lost year'