On September 1st, Dudley took seven potions. Four were simple ones, made to disguise his appearance. A fifth was to lock in the properties of these potions for the forseeable future. The final two were to take care of the cold he'd developed about a week ago.

"Is Dudley Dursley and Harry Potter sure they is being okay at Hogwarts?" Middy asked anxiously as the cousins prepared to leave the prison for the first time since the day they'd arrived, about a year ago by now.

"We'll be fine, now," Harry said. "Where's the port key?"

"Over there," Dudley said, pointing to the umbrella turned portkey Dumbledore had sent them when he wrote (as Harry) to accept the Hogwarts letter, and asking for a portkey. Perhaps it was a bit worrying that Dumbledore hadn't asked where they were staying, or why they would need one. Instead, he had sent a package, containing the umbrella and a letter explaining that the portkey would get them to Platform 9 ¾, since he felt it important that Harry interact with his peers before the start of school.

From Dudley Dursley, Dumbledore had heard nothing. Nor had he inquired after him in the letter he sent with the portkey. "Are you ready?" Dudley asked Harry, now.

"Almost," Harry said. "You've got all our stuff, right?"

Dudley nodded. "I put it in the trunk." Harry nodded.

"Cool," he said, then smiled. "I love that trunk, Dudley. You did a really great job with that."

"Thanks," Dudley said, trying and failing to sound off hand about it. He deserved to be proud of it, though. During the past month, while Harry was working like mad to master his animagus form (he had been doing it in his potions room alone, and neither Dudley nor Middy knew what he was yet. Although based on the lack of complaints, he was apparently something that could blend in well at Hogwarts), Dudley had been adding layer after layer of enchantments to his trunk.

To start with, there were three compartments now. Due to a 'notice me not' charm, however, no one that wasn't specifically looking for them would notice the second or third compartment. The first one, the one that everyone could see, held all of Dudley's things. Books, wand, robes, etc. The second held all of Harry's things, and was slightly larger, since it also contained many of the potions Harry had been working on since he first figured out how to brew. The final compartment was completely different from the first two. It was about ten cubic feet, and on the floor Dudley had placed a matress, some blankets, and some pillows. This was where Harry would sleep while they were at Hogwarts, especially at the beginning of their time there.

At the moment, according to Harry, he could stay in his animagus form for about half a day, but after that he was too exhausted to keep it up. Becaue he was not a wizard, he would have to work on building up the length of time he was able to use his animagus form for. He would never be able to hold it indefinitely, but Harry had confided in both Dudley and Middy that he was just happy that being a squib wasn't stopping him from having an animagus form in the first place.

"So Harry," Dudley said, "How are you getting to Hogwarts? Did you want to ride in the trunk, or are you finally going to show me your animagus form?"

"The second," said Harry, grinning. "Here." He handed Dudley a bird cage. At Dudley's look of confusion, he explained, "Pets need to be contained until the Hogwarts Express arrives at the school."

"So you're a bird?" Dudley asked. Harry nodded. "What kind?"

"Guess."

"Owl," Dudley suggested.

"Nope."

"Eagle?" Asked Middy, who had been sitting near by and listening to the conversation. Harry shook his head again, and continued to do so as Dudley and Middy continued to throw out guesses.

"Hawk."

"Falcon."

"I know," Dudley said after a moment's thought. "You're a hummingbird, and you don't want to tell us because you're embarresed."

"Nope!" Harry said, still grinning.

"Just be telling us already!" Middy cried, apparently frustrated.

"Fine, fine!" Harry gave in. "A bat."

There was a moment of silence, then Middy pointed out, "A bat is a mammal, not a bird."

"Close enough," Harry responded with a small shrug. "It flies. It's got wings."

"That's so cool!" Dudley said. "I hope my animagus form is as cool as that..." Due to the fact that he had spent all of the past month getting ready for Hogwarts to start, Dudley hadn't even had time to take the potion yet, much less perfect his animagus form.

"I'm sure it will be," Harry reassured his cousin. "Don't wor-"

"It's ten thirty already!" Middy suddenly yelled, jumping up from her position seated on a small stool. "The Hogwarts Express is leaving in half an hour! You twos must be going now!"

-~-

Dudley stood just inside the entrance to Platform 9 ¾, staring in awe at the great scarlet steam train that was standing before him, puffing gently and waiting to leave the station. The platform was still fairly empty- apparently most of the families were running late, hardly surprising since teens are notoriously late for everything.

Dudley made his way towards the train, dragging his heavy trunk and Harry's cage behind him. He could have easily lightened the trunk and levitated both items, but he thought that it would be best to pretend that he had no measurable skills with a wand, especially since he didn't want people asking where he (or rather, Harry Potter) had been staying for the past year in order to learn all this stuff.

He boarded the train, found an empty compartment, and sat down.

And waited.

The train would be leaving soon.

-~-

A/N: Down't own anything.

...They're almost at Hogwarts!