Round Two Entry for 'The Blindfolded Competition'. It's the best contest I've entered, with lots of personalised feedback. There's a second one starting soon, so you guys should check it out!

Theme: Random encounters

Character prompts: Dudley Dursley & Blaise Zabini

Other prompts: Mystery (genre) & Never Have I Ever

Pairing Orientation prompt: Pre-slash


Never Have I Ever Done This Before


Dudley Dursley had never felt so out of place in his life. He was surrounded by Harry's friends, at a party in Harry's magical world and not a single normal– sorry, non-magical – person was in sight, or so he assumed.

He really hated masquerades.

"Cheer up, Dudley!" Harry patted his estranged cousin's muscled arm.

"I know I said I wanted to get to know you properly, but couldn't we do this at a coffee shop or something?" Dudley groused as he sipped at a drink that burned the back of his throat.

He was so having words with his therapist one of these days. Sure, reconciling himself with Harry was important but it's not like she knew about the magical stuff. One of these nutters – sorry, wizards – could kill him in a second!

"We could, but I thought you'd like this more. You like parties, right?" Harry asked.

"My parties don't involve ballrooms, medieval dress codes or masks that change the sound of your voice," muttered Dudley.

"Oh, yeah, the magical world is a bit… retro." Harry shrugged. "But we have fun too!"

Yeah, right. Ballroom dances with strangers was so much fun. At least Dudley's sparrow mask hid his disgusted expression from the other partygoers, especially since he didn't lost it until he was significantly less sober. By the time he had reached that blissful level of full body buzzing, he and Harry were seated with three other people and he had failed at playing Wizarding Snap. His mask was also smouldering slightly.

"You suck at this," one of them, wearing a raven-shaped mask, told him.

"I'm just not used to it! I don't play this where I'm from," Dudley retorted, emboldened by the alcohol in his system.

"Well, what do you play then?" asked another, wearing a dove mask. Dudley thought it was thoroughly creepy that the mask used a male voice when she was clearly female. He told her so.

"The people who organised this are misogynists," Dove sneered. "They're also idiots."

"What kind of games do you play at parties?" Harry repeated the earlier question.

"Drinking games, kissing games, Spin the Bottle, Never Have I Ever," Dudley began listing the usual college party games.

"What's Never Have I Ever?" interrupted the third stranger, wearing an eagle mask.

Dudley explained the rules, painfully aware that he was teaching a bunch of wizards a game which they would no doubt turn their noses up at. Surprisingly, they were intrigued and Harry proposed playing it right then.

"You go first," he urged Dudley, who shrugged as he raised his hands and spread his fingers.

"Never have I ever kissed a boy," he said randomly.

Four fingers went down. He gaped at his cousin who scratched his neck sheepishly.

Dove surveyed her companions before announcing, "Never have I ever been bisexual."

Three fingers went down.

She nodded in satisfaction. "At least you swing both ways."

"Never have I ever been homophobic," Raven snapped.

Dove snorted as she lowered a finger. Eagle and Dudley put one down as well.

"My family," Eagle explained.

"I'm not anymore," Dudley said awkwardly to Harry. Harry took a sip of his beer and didn't reply.

"Never have I ever…" Eagle began, "listened to Muggle music."

"Bullshit," Raven interrupted before Dudley could ask Harry what a Muggle was. "I've seen your Best of Queen album."

"Fine," Eagle said mulishly. "You're ruining my reputation, you know."

"The point of the mask is to take away your identity," Dove reminded him.

"Give a man a mask and he will tell you the truth," Dudley quoted, but only Harry seemed to get the reference and looked taken aback.

"I'm not an idiot, you know," Dudley scowled at his cousin, who apologised for giving him that impression.

"Never have I ever killed a pet!" Eagle said loudly.

"That was one time!" Raven whined as he lowered a finger, followed by the rest.

"What did you kill?" Dudley asked Harry.

"My owl," Harry replied and refused to elaborate further. "Never have I ever been good at ballroom dancing."

Three fingers went down while Dove admonished Harry.

The game continued. By the time they were down to three fingers each, people were getting more personal.

"Never have I ever slept with a Ravenclaw," Dove said, watching in satisfaction as Eagle and Raven lowered a finger each.

"Never have I ever thought Cedric Diggory was hot," Raven countered, causing Harry and Dove to lower a finger.

Dudley had no idea what these people were talking about anymore.

"Never have I ever really been close to a family member," Dudley said when his turn rolled around again.

"That's just sad," Raven said as everyone else lowered a finger.

"My godfather," Harry murmured quietly as explanation.

"Never have I ever dated a Hufflepuff," Dove exclaimed, but no one lowered a finger. "Dammit!"

"What's with your obsession with the Houses?" Harry asked, but no reply was given.

"Never have I ever…" Raven said, considering his options. There was a note of triumph in his voice as he proclaimed, "Wanted to shag Harry Potter!"

Dudley choked on air while Eagle lost the game.

"You did that on purpose," hissed Eagle, hitting his friend.

Raven just laughed before telling Dudley, "I really like this game."

"Never have I ever, um…" Harry floundered, "liked dogs?"

Dudley idly noted that his cousin seemed flustered as he lowered his penultimate finger. Dove flounced off after her loss.

"Never have I ever liked whatever this band is playing," Dudley said, not really interested in his turn as he waved for another drink.

No one moved.

"It's a pretty shitty song," Raven mused, rubbing underneath his mask at his chin. "Never have I ever… wanted to shag Draco Malfoy." He sounded smug again.

Dudley had no idea who Raven was talking about, but Harry meekly lowered his hand.

"Thought so. Few bisexual students from Hogwarts would disagree," Raven explained.

"I'm not ashamed that I like him," Harry replied quietly.

"I said shag, not like."

"And I'm saying like, not just shag."

"Anyway!" Dudley interrupted. "Never have I ever been to Hogwarts. There – I win."

Raven chuckled as he lowered his hand. "I guess you do." He turned to Eagle and began to talk to him quietly.

"Do you want to go home?" Harry asked, swirling his drink.

Dudley wanted to say hell yes, but he held back. His cousin had always been a lonely kid and the fact that he chose to bring Dudley to a party as his plus one spoke volumes for his solitude. For once in Dudley's life, he was going to be considerate of Harry.

"Why don't you ask him to dance or something?" Dudley glanced meaningfully at Eagle.

Harry shook his head. "I can't dance. Besides, he's not interested in me."

"You don't know that. And one night stands can be fun, you know." Dudley shifted uncomfortably. "I can find my own way home."

"He's interested in Harry Potter and I'm not interested in one night stands."

"Look…" Dudley wondered if this kind of behaviour in a twenty-one-year-old was healthy. Maybe he should give Harry his therapist's card. They could commiserate on Dudley's parents, and there would be no more terrible balls and awkward conversations. Unfortunately, Harry needed his help now so Dudley would have to bring up discounted group therapy another day. "Harry, I know this guy isn't that - Malcoy? Malboy? Malvolio?"

"Malfoy." There was a note of amusement in Harry's ersatz voice.

"Right, him. I know this guy isn't him, but that doesn't mean you will be worse off for it. This guy is interested in you for a reason, and if you don't like him or that reason, you can just walk away. But you should at least try."

Harry put down his beer and half-hugged his cousin. "Thanks, Dudley."

"You're welcome, cousin." Dudley smiled. "Now go get him!"

Harry rose but didn't get to move because Eagle was in front of him.

"Would you like to dance?" Eagle asked, bowing formally. "It would be a crime to attend a ball without dancing at least once."

"Ummm…"

"Yes, he would," Dudley interrupted his cousin, practically shoving him into Eagle's arms. "Have fun, you two!"

After a bit more fuss on Harry's part, the pair made their way to the dance floor. Dudley drained his drink with a grimace, wondering if he could get a cab from wherever this place was.

"Would you like a ride home?" Raven asked him, watching his friend dance with Harry.

"Uhh…" Dudley had no idea how to explain that he lived in a non-magical neighbourhood.

"I've been to the Muggle side before, and I have a car."

"How did you-?"

"I pay attention." Raven turned away from the disaster on the dancefloor (even Dudley could tell that Harry was a terrible dance partner) and extended his hand. "Shall we head home? I can guarantee Harry will be busy with my friend for a while."

Dudley took Raven's hand numbly. Harry had never told him wizards could read minds!

"Blaise Zabini, at your service." Raven kissed Dudley's hand.

Dudley froze, blood rushing to his face as his brain suddenly reminded him that he was facing a bisexual wizard. "Dudley Dursley," he eventually muttered, pulling away.

"No need to be offended. It's wizard custom to greet in such a manner."

"Oh." Dudley felt dumb. "Sorry."

Blaise took Dudley's elbow and gently guided him towards the door. Dudley noticed he smelt like cinnamon. He also noticed the hand that was on his waist, but that could be explained by the fact that he couldn't walk straight.

"You're very fit," Blaise noted as he led him past the dance floor.

"I wrestle," Dudley mumbled back.

As they passed Harry and Eagle, Blaise called out, "I'll see you tomorrow, Draco!"

Dudley just managed to catch sight of the frozen couple before they were out the door. Somehow, he felt better knowing there were three people played tonight.