28th July 1997:
The next morning Dudley was awoke by a shake on the shoulder looking down at him was a slender tall boy with dusty blonde hair and the same sharp noise as the old woman.
"Gran says you need to come down now, we're eating breakfast in five"
As Dudley followed the boy downstairs there was a gasp of shock from Augusta "No!" she exclaimed "Not Alastor" she was sat in a large ornate chair on which an owl perched on the top left corner, in her hand she gripped a scrunched up letter.
"What's happened Gran?" asked the boy a concerned look on his face "did it work?"
"Harry's safe Neville" she started "But Alastor Moody... is ... is dead" the words are hard for her to say, like she couldn't quite believe herself.
Neville gasped "no way, he was the best Auror out there"
"Molly says You-know-who himself got him" she sighed pausing for a moment to compose herself, "but overall it was a success" she looked up and seemed to notice Dudley's existence for the first time.
"Your parents are in the dining room already, you'd better join them" she looked over her glasses as she spoke Dudley looked at her blankly. Who was this Alastor? Was he one of Harry companions? Had he really just died protecting his cousin last night? Who would die for Harry?
"I don't..." he began
"Oh you don't know where to go, Neville show him then I want you back in here to discuss something regarding school." The old lady ordered calmly, she had regained a military like composure.
"Yes Gran" the boy replied meekly "Come on" he said to Dudley and the two began to walk through the house. From the outside the Longbottoms house had looked like a normal little semi-detached house built in the post second world war building boom if Dudley's history lesson memory served him right but inside was a different matter. Beyond the bedroom where he'd slept there must have been five more to sleep the people in that house that morning, plus another for the elf he supposed. Then that morning Neville had walked him past three sitting rooms, a library, a formal dining room and a music room.
"That door there" said Neville pointing to a rounded dark wood door at the end of the corridor,
"This house is too big" Dudley stated "I don't understand how"
"Magic" Neville replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world "simple extending charms and some more complicated disillusionment ones. Gran did them years ago when she moved here with Grandpa. To be honest I've never given them much thought."
"Where are your parents?" Dudley blurted looking at the boy "Do you live with your Gran?"
Neville looked shocked then sad then confused in quick succession "Harry never mentioned me" he mumbled.
"I never asked" Dudley replied "You know Harry?"
"Course, we've been in Gryffindor together since first year." He sounded shocked.
"What's Gryffindor?" asked Dudley as the wooden door swung open.
"There you are lad" exclaimed the wizard from yesterday "come on your parents are worrying" he gripped Dudley's shoulder and pulled him into the large kitchen dining room before Neville could stop gasping in shock and answer his question. At the kitchen sink he could see the elf thing humming a tune while washing dishes and around the table sat his parents and the witch from yesterday who was peering at a newspaper and frowning slightly;
"Scrimgeour's losing control" she mumbled
"Not in front of the Muggles" replied the wizard sitting down next to her on a chair, Dudley just stood there for a moment longer before sitting down.
As he sat down the plate in front of him filled with food and he gasped in shock jumping back, he'd never get used to this magic nonsense.
"It's okay dear boy" laughed the Wizard slapping him on the back "Just Mimsy sending you the food from over there" Dudley looked up the elf was still washing dishes. How?
"Vernon" his mum screeched suddenly "I want to get out of here. Now!" Dudley noticed now she was perched on the edge of her chair, her plate of food untouched.
"Of course dear" his Dad replied. He stood up the chair screeching across the floor as he did so "Dudley go to the car, come on dear we're leaving" as Dudley stood as did the wizard drawing out his wand as he did.
"I can't allow you to do that Mr Dursley" he said
"You wouldn't dare harm me" he yelled back.
"Then I promise this won't hurt a bit. Immobulus" Dudley's father froze to the spot but he continued to yell abuse at the man. "Silencio" Vernon's mouth continued to move but no sound came out.
Dudley's mum screamed and with another "Silenceio" she was also silenced. All though this dramatic exchange the witch hadn't looked up from her paper.
"Mimsy please take the Dursley's back up to their room" she said calmly and with a flick of her wand both of Dudley's parents were able to move and talk again.
"You are not sending me ..." his Dad began to yell before he vanished in a flash along with the elf. She appeared moments later.
"Mimsy has locked the noisy man and the crying lady in their room Miss Hestia"
"Thank you Mimsy" replied Hestia rubbing her forehead "they were giving me a migraine"
The wizard sat back down and began to spread some jam on his toast as Dudley only stood there, not quite sure what he'd just witnessed.
"Urm, Shall I go too?" he asked,
"Why" asked the Wizard a mouthful of toast "you're not going to kick up a fuss too are you boy"
"No" Dudley wouldn't dare, he'd seen how dangerous these wizards could be too many times.
"Then sit down and eat"
Dudley sat.
"You don't have a television" The words seep out of Dudley as soon as he hears the other boy joining him in one of the houses many sitting rooms. Dudley had been left here fifteen minutes ago after he'd sat at the breakfast table for about an hour picking slowly at the food the elf had prepared. It seemed no one knew what to do with the muggle boy in their presence.
Neville just shrugged "Dean told me about them once. Don't see the point really"
"But then how am I supposed to play on my new N64?" Dudley thought bitterly of his barely used birthday present sitting in the back of the car, there hadn't been enough room for either one of his television sets or the one from the lounge.
Neville remained silent, obviously not having a clue what Dudley was on about and Dudley just stared back at the boy. This awkward silence continued for a few minutes as neither boy knew what to say to the other.
"Harry never mentioned me then?" Neville spoke quietly and Dudley almost didn't hear him.
"s'pose not" he replied after a moment's thought "Never really named any of his friends from that place"
The way Neville looked at him was almost like a little lost puppy until he composed himself and scowled "Well he never mentioned you, there must be a reason"
Dudley felt anger building up within him, what did this wizard freak care what his stupid cousin thought.
"What Harry thinks isn't all that" he told the boy "He's pretty useless really"
"He defeated the most evil wizard of our time as a baby, then again in first year, in second he killed a basilisk, Dementors, dragons, mermaids, Umbridge, he created the DA for Merlin's sake" Neville stood up and even though he couldn't understand a word he'd just said Dudley could tell by the look of anger on his previously peaceful face that these must be pretty important stuff. Neville lent forward and looked Dudley in the eye "He led an attack on the ministry of magic, was there the night Dumbledore fell and has stood his own against some of the most powerful dark wizards of our time"
His ferociousness subsided slightly as he took a step back leaving Dudley frozen and in shock "So no Dudley Dursley, Harry Potter is not useless he's the hero of the wizarding world" Neville paused "He's my hero"
Dudley remained frozen as Neville breathed deeply regaining his breath, the two boys looked at each other in silence for a moment.
"I see" was all Dudley could think to reply "I think there's quite a few things I've never been told."
"You and me both" muttered Neville in reply. They continued to sit in silence for a while longer, both wondering if the other would ever talk again. Finally it was Neville who was brave enough to go first.
"You ever played chess?"
"Tried the version on my computer once, it's kinda dull though"
"Not wizard's chess" Smiled Neville gathering his father's old set from the corner.
The next day was Neville's birthday and though Dudley had no presents to offer him he wished him the best as he sat down to breakfast, there was no sign of his parents and Dudley was almost relieved.
"Seventeen, how does it feel to be of age my dear boy?" asked the wizard as he slapped Neville on the back.
"Not to different," Neville replied as he started to eat the eggs on his plate, he smiled and pulled out his wand "although, Accio salt" the salt flew across the table and into Neville's hand and the wizard laughed and clapped.
"Accio jam" Dudley muttered reaching out to the jam, which just sat there immobile as always.