House: Gryffindor

Position: HoH

Category: Drabble

Prompt: (speech) "I didn't mean to date your ex. It just happened"

Word Count: 489

Betas: Tigger and Shibalyfe

"It's so strange that your cousin sent you a letter out of the blue," Ginny said.

Harry shrugged. "Dudley was a right, foul git when we were growing up. But he told me that he didn't hate me when I saw him last. I think he finally caught on to some of the bullshite that Uncle Vernon had been feeding him for years."

Harry and Ginny arrived at the little cafe that Dudley had asked to meet them at. Glancing around for either an empty table or his cousin, Harry was shocked to see Cho Chang sitting alone.

"Cho?" Harry asked as he approached. "How've you been? I haven't seen you since the final battle."

"Hi Harry," Cho said, softly. "I've been really well actually. I left the Wizarding World for a few years. I went to Muggle University and met someone."

"That's wonderful, Cho. I'm happy for you."

"He's just over there." Cho gestured to the counter where a man was picking up a tray of drinks.

"Is that..." Ginny trailed off.

Harry's eyes widened as he recognized the man at the counter. Physically, he looked a lot different from when he'd last seen him. But there was no mistaking him.

"Dudley? Cho, you're dating Dudley?" he sputtered. "You're dating my cousin. How? What? Why? How?"

Ginny laid a calming hand on Harry's arm, effectively muting the nonsense spewing from his mouth.

"Hello, Harry," Dudley said as he set the tray down on the table. With a hopeful look, he stuck out his hand.

Harry accepted the gesture. "What's happening here? Last I knew, you hated magic and now you're dating a witch? And not just any witch. She's my ex-girlfriend."

"I didn't mean to date your ex. It just happened," Dudley said as he motioned for everyone to take a seat. "I met Cho at University. She worked at the campus library and helped me out on a class project. I didn't even know she was a witch until we'd been dating for almost a year. She let me borrow a scarf and I recognized it as one of your school's houses: Ravencaw."

"Ravenclaw," Harry, Ginny, and Cho corrected, simultaneously.

"Wow," Harry said. "OK." He turned to Cho. "Are you happy with Dudley?"

She smiled. "Very. Once he realized what I was, he explained who he was. Told me all about how he treated you so cruelly as children. But he's a good man now, Harry. He really is."

Harry watched as Cho unconsciously leaned into Dudley, seeking support and comfort. "What do Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia think?"

"Dad and I are no longer speaking. Mum just wants me to be happy, but it's hard for her because she thinks she's going to lose me, too. But I won't give up Cho. I love her," Dudley pledged.

"That's wonderful, Dudley," Harry said, honestly. "Just be sure to treat her right."

"She deserves nothing less," Dudley promised.