Dudley's Rose

Short Story following a little teaser on Sisters_of_the_writestuff yahoo goup (of sisters Loralee and BertaS) by BertaS with following A/N:

I have no idea where this came from and there doesn't seem to be any more. If someone would like to use this as a start I would be interested to see how it turns out. BertaS

As of here it's mine (or better JKR's, but I played around with it).

Chapter three

"Who told you ? Haven't they heard of ..."

"Hermione"

"... patient confidentiality ? What gave them the right .."

"Hang on, what does patient confidentiality have to do with this ?"

"Hermione ? But how did she find out ? I only came home an hour ago!"

"Ginny? What's wrong ? Are you ill ? Is it bad ?"

"You mean, you don't know ?" Not yet, anyway ? Oh dear, what a mess. What happened ?"

"What do you mean, what happened ? Ginny, please, are you OK ? Why didn't you tell me you were feeling ill ?"

"Because, silly, it is normal. And I'm new to this, so I wanted to be certain and asked the more experienced healer if I was correct. She confirmed my diagnosis, told me to go home and make my husband the happiest wizard on earth."

Harry looked utterly gobsmacked, not knowing what to make of Ginny's words. She took pity on him and spelled it out.

"We, my darling husband, can expect an addition to the family in the second half of January. You are going to be a daddy !"

The next thing Ginny knew she was scooped up in her husband's loving arms and she was being tenderly held as her strong husband nearly wept with happiness. The next moment he was anxiously looking at her as if he would be able to detect any problem that way. Still smiling she answered his unasked questions by saying. "The healer said I'm perfectly fine, to keep up the good diet of fresh fruit and veg and limit the flooing and especially apparating from Halloween onwards. Madame Pomfrey has agreed to be my Medi-Witch for the pregnancy and we can go anytime on either Tuesday or Wednesday next week for a first formal check up."

Further conversation was cut short as emerald green flames shot up in the fireplace and Percy stepped out.

"Good evening Harry, Ginny, sorry to arrive unannounced but I'm just here on a flying visit to make a special delivery. You will never guess who was waiting for the Express in King's Cross, Harry. Dudley Dursley was there, he wanted to know how he as a muggle could contact and write a witch or wizard, so I told him about the usual procedure with the Post Owl Office but when I saw he had the letter there and with your name on it I said I'd deliver it in person."

With that he handed the letter to Harry, called out a cheerful "Cheerio" and with a flick of his hand used more floo powder and returned home to his wife Penelope and their two children.

Ginny in the mean time took control of her slightly dazed husband and steered him to the nearest couch, pushed him down on it and nestled herself right next to him. They silently sat like that for several minutes and when Ginny felt him relax into her embrace she was about to ask the questions that by now were fighting to get out when Harry himself started to talk.

"Hermione wanted to talk about a new appearance on the list of Muggleborns. It seems like Dudley has a two year old daughter who is magical. The thing is that Rose, that's the girl, is related to me through her mother rather than through Dudley. Hermione did some research ..."

Harry stopped for a moment to smile along as Ginny couldn't control the small giggle that came up as he mentioned Hermione's research.

" and found out that aunt Petunia was in fact adopted. She was my mum's cousin instead of her sister, making Dudley my second cousin. And it turns out that Heather, that's Dudley's wife, is also my second cousin but from the other branch."

After a few moments of silence, Harry continued.

"I wonder if aunt Petunia knew she was adopted, or if and when she found out. Maybe she knew all along and that was why she was so angry at and maybe even jealous of my mum ?"

"So, what do you think Dudley wants from you ?"

"I'm hoping that he's asking for advice and maybe a little help. Uncle Vernon would have just dropped me off at the orphanage, so him going to the trouble to contact me seems positive. Or maybe I'm just too optimistic ?", he thought aloud.

He sat tapping the letter on his knee for a few moments longer and, having decided there was no time like right then and there to read it, opened the letter and found it even more surprising than he could have hoped for.

Dear Harry

I'm sorry for being such a terrible git when we were younger. I realise no matter how often or ho much I apologise it cannot undo all the harm I caused you (and others). I can but hope that the knowledge that I did change may help a little towards you forgiving the younger me.

Profound thanks are definitely also in order, Harry. I shocked all four of us when you left Privet Drive on your 17th birthday and wished you well. Your parting words however have had a severe impact on me, and together with another verbal kick in the behind delivered mere weeks after yours they have made me into this mature and better Dudley.

The letter continued for several more computer printed pages detailing Dudley's journey into responsible adulthood and only in the last paragraph made mention of the real reason for writing.

The timing of this letter is most suspicious I know. Truth is you are my last personal failure. From early on in my relationship with Heather I have begun to realise that no matter how much I change I would like your personal approval of the man I have become. Only up to now I didn't have enough guts to actually seek you out. But now that my darling daughter is showing signs of being a magical child I can but ask you for your help, if not in person than please through any of your friends or acquaintances. Any advice on how to help her with this gift will be much appreciated.