Dudley:
Turns out this new friends name is Neville or Norbert or something equally as dorky. Before 'pleasantries' could be made however an ear splitting screech rent the air. Teens everywhere craned their chubby necks to locate the source of the commotion. The source, Dudley noticed, was a twig of a woman manically jogging on the spot . With an unnatural orange glow and abs that would put an Olympic runner to shame, the middle aged woman looked to be straight out of one of those phony television ads that provide miracle cures to the ignorant masses for an extortionate price. As the whistle left her lips she addressed her new recruits in an irritating high pitched voice reminiscent of a rusty nail on a chalkboard.
"Hey guys! Good to see you! You look great! Just kidding! I'm Kathy Grant but you can call me Kat. On to business. During the next six weeks I'm gonna whip you guys into shape. I'm going medieval on your massive behinds. It's possible some of you may come to dislike me but..."
Your not wrong there thought Dudley as he let his mind travel from Kat's introduction speech to assess his new friend. A quick once over and Dudley was far from impressed. 'This boy's a wizard? Where's the power? The confidence, the danger.' This boy was as different from Harry as chocolate to broccoli, and Dudley hated broccoli. Physically the boy was nothing special. Not putridly ugly but definitely no Harry Potter. Everything about him just screamed ordinary from his pudding cut sandy brown hair, complete with cows lick, to his chubby face that was lightly sprinkled with freckles.
Dudley looked away in disgust. Training this boy was going to be difficult. He was worthless. He was trash and yet... Harry saw something in this boy. What was it? Before he could contemplate the group seemed to be moving. Dudley fell back behind Neville, not as a sign of weakness but to ensure the little shit didn't run off. The procession was taken on a tour of the grounds. In addition to running tracks and soccer fields, Sugar Oaks was also the proud owner of the countries largest and most demanding obstacle course. 'Fuck that!' thought Dudley as his gaze travelled a fifty foot climbing net. After being shown around the recreation room, and more importantly the cantine, the teens were led to their accommodation. The sleeping quarters were not communal meaning the girls had a cabin to themselves.
Just then Kathy addressed the teens once more. "Alrighty then kiddies, time to pair up. This here camp works on a buddy system meaning if one fails both fail. You will be accountable for your buddy's actions and it will be your responsibility to get your buddy through these next six weeks. Pick carefully. The one you choose will be on your ass night and day for the rest of your time here. Now pick!"
Dudley turned his attention on Neville and upon catching the other boy's eye lifted an eyebrow enquiringly. Anger flared through him as the other boy nodded reluctantly with a look of panic. He could at least look enthusiastic. The ungrateful little git was being offered the chance of a lifetime after all. As Kathy took a list of partners Dudley put his anger aside and sauntered over to his new partner to make small talk. "So, ummm...you're friends with Harry?" The other boy nodded but kept his mouth shut tight. Dudley suppressed a groan. "So how did you two meet?" Dudley mentally kicked himself for uttering such a retarded question. Thinking under pressure, or thinking at all, was not his forte.
"We're friends from Hog...I mean we're school friends," mumbled Neville. At least the dumb fuck is smart enough not to mention magic in front of, what was the word Harry used? Muggles.
Just then Kathy appeared in front of them flashing a smile that was as fake as her tits and waving a clipboard in their faces. "Names?"
Once the bitch had gone, for that is the nickname with which Dudley had already mentally dubbed her, both boys began to unpack their belongings into trunks situated at the foot of their adjacent beds. Someone must have realised obese teens and bunk beds don't mix thought Dudley as he unpacked a picture of his family. This was his favourite photo as it was one of the few that contained Harry. Both aged fourteen in the photo, Harry was half hidden behind Dudley but it mattered not. Now he displayed the photo proudly on his bedside table as a warning to this Neville. Marking his property, so to speak. Harry was his and his alone. As he turned on Neville with a smug grin he noticed the photo on the other boy's bedside table. It was a picture of Neville and Harry standing side by side, Harry's arm around Neville, and both beaming happily. As Neville caught the direction of his stare and then in turn noticed Dudley's photo, he flashed Dudley a nervous grin, the equivalent to a kick in the crotch. Smarmy little cunt!
Neville:
Oh diddums! This was not going to plan at all. The elation and shock of Harry's sudden appearance had departed with the green eyed beauty himself only to be replaced with a sudden sensation of dread. Dread which, most likely, had something to do with the monstrous muggle little more than a wands length away. The muggle that even now leered in his direction with those watery blue eyes so similar to the emerald green pools that belonged to his own flesh and blood yet so different in every way.
Awkwardness threatened to overwhelm the moment so Neville, with years of manners drilled into him by his grandmother from a young age, held out a porky hand to the muggle named Dudley and mumbled a greeting of 'Neville. Neville Longbottom, pleased to meet you."
Both boys were spared further conversation by a screech that could rival that of a mandrake. All attention fell on an athletic looking woman that looked as out of place circled by the corpulent crowds of overweight kids as a centaur at a swimming pool. As Kathy, for that appeared to be her name, made her speech Neville felt her enthusiasm flow into him and give his spirits the lift they required. She seemed tough, determined and motivated. A little of his earlier disappointment began to ebb as he realised that if anyone could turn him into the boy Harry deserved it was Kathy Grant.
After ten minutes hooked on the bawling fitness trainers every awe-inspiring word, Neville found himself being taken on a tour of the grounds. The facilities were everything the brochure had promised, right down to the fifty foot climbing net that made Neville queasy merely from the sight of it. Turning his back on the towering net of death Neville continued with the tour trying hard to forget his vertigo. A while passed and they were shown to their dormitories.
All the while Dudley followed behind a little too closely for comfort. What does he want with me? If half the stories Harry told of this boy were true, and Neville had no reason to doubt that they weren't especially now, then this summer was going to be worse than a years extra Potions with Snape.
Suddenly Kathy made an announcement that caused Nevilles spirits to sink even further. Buddy system? Oh no! Turning to face his grumpy unwanted companion his worst suspicions were confirmed. The muggle stared and raised his shoulders with an enquiring grunt that could only mean one thing. Neville let his own shoulders slump as he nodded an affirmative.
Double diddums! This is not good. One little nod and now he was trapped. Why did he have to nod? It was so like him. He could never say no. Polite to a blooming fault. That's what Great-Uncle Algie said. What had he gotten himself into? Only the thought of a certain Gryffindor kept Neville from despairing completely. I'm doing this for Harry. I'm doing this for Harry. His mantra was interrupted, however, as the other boy approached.
"So, ummm...you're friends with Harry?" the beastly boy drawled. Luckily a simple nod was sufficient enough an answer, saving Neville the embarrassment of speaking. The last thing he wanted was a tremble in his voice to betray his fear of the other boy. The relief was short lived as the boy asked another question. "So how did you two meet?" The stupidity of this question was lost on the timid wizard as this time his treacherous voice did betray him.
"We're friends from Hog...I mean we're school friends." Please please please, no more questions! Salvation! Kathy with perfect timing appeared from nowhere to take names. Neville was liking this woman more and more each second. A faint ray of hope occurred to him as he imagined that Kathy was not the type to take bullying lightly and worse come to worse he could always ask for help. After taking names the teens were left to unpack. Reaching into his trunk, the same trunk that had thus far made the trip to Hogwarts 6 times and smelled faintly of fertilizer, Neville pulled out his most prized possession. Harrys pretty feminine face gazed up from the stationary muggle photograph and though it contained not a hint of magic, somehow the photographer through some muggle magic of his own had capture that glint in Harrys' eye. That glint that now told Neville everything would be fine.
He allowed himself the first smile since the departure of Harry and even risked a timid smile at Dudley. This, however only earned a glare that could stop a basilisk in its tracks. I'm doing this for Harry!
end of chapter.
thanks to all who have read this far and i promise there wont be such a long wait for the next chapter :3
