I tried to get this done as soon as possible.
Well, to answer someones question, Harry is 22 but Dudley is a little bit older.
"Merlin's Beard, Dudley... Wow...er...I'm sorry." Harry said awkwardly.
"Harry, Why should you be sorry?! My family acted like jerks to you and you say sorry!? I'm sorry, that I was always so nasty to you and that my parents treated you like dirt and... Well, I'm sorry for everything." Dudley said all of this without any hesitation and to Harry it sounded like he had planned this little speech.
Padma looked a Little flustered, and said shyly, " You guys know each other?"
At the same time the young men said, " He's my cousin."
The whole group laughed at the way they spoke in unison. The laugh broke the tension and even Dudley managed to smile.
"Wow," said George, " You guys really are related."
Dudley looked at his younger cousin and in a kind voice that Harry had never heard before said, " Harry, can I talk to you...alone?"
Harry looked back at his friends for reassurance, and Ginny nodded and mouthed the word GO. Harry beckoned to Dudley to follow him and he yelled to his friends, " Guys, we'll be back in 25 minutes why don't you guys go over to The Three Broomsticks and meet us here after wards."
The boys walked in silence for two minutes, but in that time Dudley had thought of alot.
"Harry went to that school for wizards and if he went with Padma, then well then Padma's a wizard! Oh wait, females are witches, well at least I think they are.I'm such an idiot, that was what she was hiding and she didn't want to tell me because...well probably because she was scared I would break up with her. I would never leave Padma, never, ever, ever, ever. But...Mum and Dad they would kill me if they found out Padma was like Harry. Well, Mum would be happy for me, but Dad ... he would probably disown me or something..."
In those two minutes of silence, Harry was having a similar thought train.
"Well, Dudley has changed alot!! He used to be a Pratt but now...he has acted like a gentleman. The things that could happen in 5 years. Is he still stupid, though? Well, does he know that Padma is a witch. And...If he does what is he going to tell his Mum and Dad. I feel bad for the mate, but will he break Padma's heart because she's different, because she's a witch. Also...Should I tell him that I'm getting married in 6 months, or should I invite him...I'll have to ask Ginny..."
The different thoughts of the men could have gone on for a while, but Dudley decided to break the silence. "You know Harry, I'm not stupid anymore."
Harry chuckled, thinking about the thought he had a moment ago.
"I'm in law school now. It's been hard, really hard and there's been only 2 things that have made it easier. One, my Mum and Dad and second thing is Padma. She has been a savior or a guardian angel. I would be a different person without her."
Harry never had thought Dudley could be so caring and compassionate. He also never thought that Dudley could make it into Law School.
"Look Dud," Harry said to his cousin, " I'm no love doctor but you have to follow your heart."
"Harry, you know my parents. Dad would never stand for me loving a witch. It's like...now there's a bridge between me and Padma, that can't be crossed. I need to cross that bridge. I need to be with Padma!" Dudley had started out in a normal tone but by the end he was basically yelling. A couple people turned to stare at him.
Harry had to say something but he didn't know what to say. Then Harry knew what he had to do."Look, Dudley. Let me help you cross that bridge."
Dudley gave his cousin a brotherly hug, something he had never done before but for some reason the gesture didn't seem strange.
Well, that's the second chapter, hope you liked it. Thanks for the reviews, guys. I will post the third chapter ASAP. Review if you want. Thanks for reading!
