Wotcher, everyone, and good day/evening/night/whatever! THANK YOU to everyone who read, reviewed, favorited, and followed this story last week. A special shout-out to Dragonsrule18! First reviewer! ;3 Thanks to a tip by Nalia-R, I'm considering a rewrite to include a character that I had completely forgotten about. Please be patient, I still haven't decided if I'm going to include this character or not. If I do, I will be attempting to write this character in as well as include the character from now on. I hope that I can do this. In any case, thank you to everyone for reading and I hope that you enjoy Hogwarts' first Quidditch match of the season!

I own nothing from the Potterverse and never will. Thank you!

Dudley awoke on Saturday morning to a buzz of excitement through the entire Slytherin dungeon. Today was the first big Quidditch match of the season, Slytherin vs. Gryffindor! The match had been hyped all week with posters on the message board and flyers on the doors in the mornings. This morning's flyer was of a large snake eating a lion with the message "Quidditch Day! Go, Snakes, Go!" printed in silver writing. Michael had told them all last night that they didn't even have to wear their robes to the match, they could wear what they'd like. Dudley had missed his jeans, they were the first things he grabbed for the match. He finished off his outfit with a green turtleneck sweater and a Slytherin scarf, and his black hat. It had been getting colder and colder. Today was the first day that Dudley broke out his cold weather accessories.

All of the boys in the dorm were talking animatedly about Quidditch and jesting about how the Slytherin Quidditch team would wipe the field with the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Everyone was excited for the first match of the season. On their way out, Dudley overheard a Fourth and Fifth year making bets about who would score the first goal and who would catch the Snitch.

"It's typical." Malfoy sneered, marching out of the Common Room. "Everyone makes bets like that." He smirked and looked over at Dudley. "Hey, Dursley. My Father and I have a bit of a bet going ourselves. I've bet five Gallons that Potter won't last five minutes. Father doesn't think he'll last two." Draco and Crabbe and Goyle started laughing.

"Eh, I don't think he'll last five minutes either." Dudley said casually. Everyone looked at him, Blaise with a bit of shock. "Cause he'll catch the Snitch in four."

"So, you're rooting against your own House?" Draco sneered, glaring at Dudley. "Some Slytherin you are."

"Of course not!" Dudley snapped as they walked up the stairs. "I just-"

"You're hoping our team will lose!" Draco said, turning about on the stairs. Crabbe and Goyle flanked him, so that the way upstairs was blocked. Dudley and Blaise were effectively trapped. "Have some dignity and pride! Cheering on a Gryffindor...how low can you sink?"

"Can't go any lower than you, Malfoy, that's for sure." Blaise said coolly. "Get out of our way. I'm hungry."

Malfoy didn't move. Crabbe and Goyle started to crack their knuckles, balling their hands into fists. Dudley's heart raced. He was pretty sure that he could take either Crabbe or Goyle in a fight, but only one of them. Should he throw the first punch or should he wait to get punched? It was a long way down the stairs in case he fell backwards. Maybe he should throw a punch first, it might-

"What is going on here?" came a very familiar voice from behind Malfoy. They all looked up the stairs to see Professor Snape standing there, arms folded, looking down his hooked nose at them.

"Nothing, Professor." said Malfoy silkily, smiling up at him. "We were just discussing the match." Crabbe and Goyle grunted in agreement.

"Then hurry along to the Great Hall." Professor Snape ordered. "You wouldn't want to miss breakfast..."

Malfoy nodded. "Yes, sir." As Snape swept up the stairs in front of them, Malfoy turned back to Dudley and Blaise and hissed under his breath, "We aren't done, Dursley."

"Shove off, Malfoy." Blaise snapped, grabbing Dudley's arm and pushing them through the blockade. Dudley was basically dragged along the stairs until they reached the Great Hall. Blaise pushed him into the Hall and then glared at him. "You know, you might want to think about shutting up in front of Malfoy occasionally."

Dudley blinked at him. Blaise groaned and rolled his eyes.

"Look, I get that you and Potter are family and stuff. But shut up about it around Malfoy, will you? He's looking for a reason to sic Crabbe and Goyle on you." Blaise said quickly and quietly. "Just...keep out of Malfoy's way, okay?"

"I don't like bullies." Dudley said, eyes narrowing.

"Just...Merlin beard, Dudley, just try to get along, alright? I'm sick of distracting him."

Dudley blinked. Then he sighed. "Sorry, Blaise. I don't like bullies or being pushed around."

"Then just keep your head down for now." Blaise said, starting to walk towards the Slytherin table. "Just...alright?"

Dudley shrugged. "Yeah...okay." he muttered, turning towards the Gryffindor table. "I'm gonna-"

"Better not." Blaise advised, grabbing his arm and steering him towards the Slytherin table. "Quidditch makes people do stupid things."

Dudley sighed and let himself be steered towards the Slytherin table. The Hall was filled with the smell of sizzling sausages and fresh toast. Dudley helped himself to apple and cinnamon oatmeal, glancing across the Hall towards the Gryffindor table where he could see everyone was clad in scarlet and gold. He thought he could see his cousin surrounded by the Gryffindor team. But maybe that was just his imagination. He picked at his oatmeal.

"I haven't seen a Quidditch match since this summer." Blaise said, helping himself to sausages and bacon. "Yeah, it was really a practice match, but it was so cool. It took three days!"

"One match lasted three days?" Dudley wondered, still picking at his oatmeal. "How'd that work?"

"Well, the Irish Seeker couldn't catch the Snitch for three days." Blaise said as though it were obvious. "How else?"

"That seems kinda stupid." Dudley said, stirring at his oatmeal. Maybe stirring it would make it more appealing.

"I guess there are those who think that the Quidditch rules are barbaric and stuff, but why mess with something if it works?" Blaise argued good-naturedly, munching on a piece of toast. "The rules work."

Dudley shrugged. He forced himself to eat the rest of his oatmeal, nodding and making agreeing noises as Blaise continued to talk about the Quidditch rules and the matches he'd seen over the summer. Soon, the rest of the student body was rising and starting to make their way out to the Quidditch Pitch. Dudley and Blaise joined the throng and walked across the winter-nipped grounds to the Pitch. Dudley was impressed with it, much larger than some of the sports arenas he'd been in. The talking was getting louder and louder. They passed through the large archway. The Slytherins went to the left and the Gryffindors were going to the right. They followed the crowd and walked up the wooden stairs to the bleachers in the stadium. Dudley looked at the field, at the hoops and at the rest of the crowd. The Gryffindors were holding up signs that said "POTTER FOR PRESIDENT" and "GO POTTER GO!". Dudley rolled his eyes and looked through the crowd to see if - there!

Victor, Angela, and Ernest were waving at them from the back row. Blaise and Dudley fought their way up, grinning and waving.

"Hey guys!" Angela waved energetically, holding up her own pair of binnoculars. "Mum and Dad sent them just for the match! Aren't they great?!"

"Cool!" Dudley grinned as they joined them. Ernest was waving a small Slytherin striped flag and Victor was holding a sign that said "SNAKES FOR THE WIN!"

"I made it myself!" Angela beamed, pointing at the sign. "God, I love Quidditch! I've been researching and watching almost every practice. It's so much better than football! I can't wait until next year when I can try out for my House team!"

"Then maybe they'll have a chance of winning." Blaise teased, sitting down next to Victor. He ducked from Angela's playful punch and laughed. Dudley laughed and pushed in to sit next to Blaise. They teased each other about their respective teams for a few minutes until they noticed that the cheers from the rest of the crowd had grown louder and saw that Madame Hooch was walking towards the middle of the field with her broom under her arm and a trunk floating along beside her.

"Here we go, here we go!" Angela cheered, screaming loudly as both Quidditch teams took to the field, zooming out from the separate staging area and starting their parade laps about the stadium. Dudley cheered.

"Hello, and welcome to Hogwarts' first Quidditch game of the season, Slytherin vs. Gryffindor!" came the announcer's voice, from up in the teacher's box. Dudley glanced up towards it to see Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall and most of the other teachers all sitting with a Gryffindor student, Lee Jordan. All Dudley knew was that Lee was a friend of the twins. The megaphone had to have a spell on it; it was very easy to hear Lee. "The players take their positions as Madame Hooch steps out onto the field to begin the game!"

"First Quidditch match ever!" Dudley cheered, waving up at the green and scarlet robes players, hoping that Harry would see him. "Good luck, Harry! And GO SLYTHERIN!" He could hear cheers and chants, including "GO GO GRYFFINDOR, GO GO GRYFFINDOR!" from the scarlet clad supporters on the other side. Dudley felt his heart sink a tiny bit when he noticed the familiar figure of Hagrid sitting on the Gryffindor side, dressed in scarlet and waving a flag. Then Blaise knocked him in the shoulder and pointed down to the field. Madame Hooch had stopped in the center of the field. The cheers from the supporters grew louder.

The teams circled Madame Hooch in the center of the field. She adjusted her goggles on her eyes and looked up at the floating players. "Now. I want a nice, clean game. From ALL of you." She then kicked the trunk at her feet and it bounced open. Two black balls shot out of the trunk, followed by a tiny golden glint.

"The Snitch, the Snitch!" cheered Angela. Dudley cheered too, although he didn't quite know what for.

"The Bludgers erupt - followed by the Golden Snitch!" Lee announced; Dudley could hear the grin in his voice. He thought Lee sounded like a nice person. "Remember, the Snitch is worth a hundred and fifty points. The Seeker who catches the Snitch ends the game!"

'So that's what Blaise meant…' Dudley thought to himself as he clapped. 'The game can only end when the Seeker catches the Snitch. Geez, that stinks.'

Madame Hooch then leaned forward, grabbed the last ball out of the trunk and lifted it up. As she stood up, she threw it into the air.

"The Quaffle is released-" Lee shouted excitedly and Dudley saw all the scarlet and green clad players explode with sudden dives and swipes and grabs - "And the game begins!"

Angela cheered, holding the binoculars up to her eyes and whipping her head about, trying to follow the action perfectly. Dudley thought that Quidditch was a very fast game.

"And the Quaffle is immediately taken by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor - what an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive too-"

"JORDAN!" cut in Professor McGonagall's voice. Dudley and all his friends broke out in sniggers and giggles.

"Keep your eyes on the match!" Blaise yelled at the box, grinning with mirth.

"Sorry, Professor! And she's really belting along there, a neat pass to Alicia Spinnet, a good find of Oliver Wood's, only last year a reserve - back to Johnson and - no, the Slytherins have taken the Quaffle and off he goes - Flint flying like an eagle up there - he's going to sc- no! Stopped by an excellent move from Gryffindor Keeper Oliver Wood!"

Dudley had to admit to himself, Quiddich was a lot more exciting than he had originally thought. He tried to follow the action while still keeping an eye on Harry. He took his eyes off of the action for one moment and-

"-hit in the back of the head by a Bludger-"

-Harry was flying high above the stadium, Dudley could see the sun glinting off of his glasses-

"-come on, now, Angelina-"

-Harry made a lap of the stadium-

"GRYFFINDORS SCORE!"

Cheers erupted from the Gryffindors while boos and howls flew up from the Slytherins. Dudley saw Harry clapping up on his broom, cheering.

"And Slytherins take possession of the Quaffle - Fletchly passes to Captain Marcus Flint - he dodges a Bludger hit by either Fred or George Weasley, can't tell which, speeds towards the goal posts - he's going for a goal- AND BLOCKED BY OLIVER WOOD! Nice save, Wood! And Gryffindors take possession again!"

Dudley groaned good-naturedly and kept his eyes on the action. He watched the Quaffle being tossed about, watched players charge each other, set up, go in and the Slytherins took possession of the Quaffle again.

"Chaser Pucey ducks two Bludgers, two Weasleys, and Chaser Bell - speeds towards the - wait a minute, is that the Snitch?"

Dudley saw it too - just for a moment, that flash of gold that flashed over Pucey's shoulder - with a thrill of excitement, he noticed that the Seekers had seen it too. Both Harry and the Slytherin Seeker dove at the same time. Everything seemed to stop as everyone watched the Seekers dive. Harry was slightly faster, he was pulling out ahead, he- he was blocked viscously by Captain Marcus Flint. The collision sent Harry off course, holding on for dear life. Dudley roared with rage with Gryffindors. Blaise elbowed him in the ribs, but Dudley didn't care. That was his cousin!

"FOUL!" screamed all of the Gryffindor supporters. And Madame Hooch agreed with them. After an angry word to Marcus, she set up the Gryffindor Chaser Alicia Spinnet for a free shot at the posts. But in all the confusion, the Golden Snitch had disappeared.

"That was amazing!" Angela gushed, watching Marcus through her binoculars. "What a showing of the classic Full Body Block! Not many Chasers will do that block, it's considered too dangerous for them! What guts!"

"How'd you know that?" Blaise asked, booing as Spinnet scored the free goal.

"I've been studying, of course!" Angela shouted, watching the action resume in the air. "Checked out nearly every single book on Quidditch I could get my hands on in the library!"

"Slytherin in possession - Flint with the Quaffle - passes Spinnet - passes Bell - hit hard in the face by a Bludger, hope it broke his nose - only joking, Professor - Slytherins score- oh no…"

As the rousing cheers went up from the Slytherins, Dudley took his eyes off of the action again. He looked up at the sky, looking for Harry. What he saw made his heart stop. Harry was higher than anything…and his broom was jerking.

"Angela, is Harry's broom supposed to be doing that?" Dudley asked, jerking on Angela's sleeve.

"What?" she yelled back, eyes still glued to Marcus Flint.

"Harry!" Dudley yelled, grabbing the binoculars and forcing them upwards. "His broom! Is that normal?" Angela screamed. All of a sudden, everyone seemed to have noticed Harry, for his broom had started to roll. He didn't seem to be able to stop it.

"Harry!" Dudley yelled, standing up and grabbing Angela's binoculars from her. He looked through them and watched as Harry's broom gave a wild jerk. Harry flew off the front, just barely managing to hang on. Dudley felt his heart almost stop. What could he do, what could he do?! He watched as the Weasley twins flew up and tried to pull Harry to safety on their own brooms, but Harry's broom jerked him even higher and swung dangerously, so they dropped down and circled underneath him, obviously hoping to catch him. "The levitation charm won't work on broomsticks, would it?" Dudley asked desperately.

"Not at our level." Victor said in his quiet voice, watching the scene above them. "We're only First Years. We can't really affect magical objects yet."

Dudley heard the dings as someone threw the Quaffle through the goal posts. Nobody saw and Lee Jordan didn't comment on the score. Everyone watched with bated breath. Suddenly, Harry was able to climb back onto his broomstick. He swung his leg over and gripped it tightly. Dudley suddenly felt the need to breathe. He took a deep gasping breath, realizing that he had been holding it as Harry dangled in midair. Suddenly, Harry dove. The sudden movement made the supporters scream and Angela grabbed back her binoculars just as Harry hit the ground on all fours.

"What's happened, what's happened?" she shrieked, jamming the binoculars back onto her face. "What's happened?!"

Harry coughed once - twice - and something gold fell from his mouth into his outstretched hands.

"I'VE GOT THE SNITCH!"

And the crowd erupted. Madame Hooch could hardly be heard to blow her whistle to announce the end of the game.

"GRYFFINDORS WIN, GRYFFINDORS WIN! ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY POINTS TO SIXTY! GRYFFINDORS WIN!" Lee was shouting through the confusion. Captain Marcus Flint dove down to where Madame Hooch was standing on the field and threw a fit, screaming about how Harry hadn't caught the Snitch, he'd nearly swallowed it and that had to be against the rules. The Gryffindor supporters were cheering and emptying the stadium to march up towards the castle, chanting, "GO GO GRYFFINDOR, GO GO GRYFFINDOR!"

Dudley jumped up and without saying goodbye to anyone, pushed and elbowed his way through the crowd, fighting to make his way to the exit and to the changing rooms, hoping to catch Harry. He had to make sure he was alright. He'd promised Miranda. He'd promised her. And if Harry had been hurt or…he elbowed a Fifth Year particularly hard in the ribs and jumped down several stairs, racing for the exit. He made it to the changing room that he'd guessed was the Gryffindors changing area and panted for breath, knocking on the door. One of the twins opened the door, eyebrows raised.

"Oh, Dudley, right?" he asked. Dudley nodded, out of breath. "Looking for Harry?" Dudley nodded again. "Dunno where he went." the twin shrugged. "He isn't here. He's probably back up at the castle already; Madame Promfrey probably got to him. He was nearly choked on the Snitch and all."

Dudley nodded in thanks and started up the path to the castle, his legs already burning. He just had to make sure that Harry was alright. By the time he'd finally got back up to the castle, Blaise had caught up with him.

"Look, Dudley, do you think we could talk?" Blaise asked him, looking worried about something. Dudley shook his head.

"Can't." Dudley muttered. "I've got to find Harry."

"It'll only take a moment." Blaise assured him. Dudley shook his head.

"You want to talk, come with me. I'm heading for the hospital wing." Dudley said, turning down the right corridor. "I've got to make sure Harry's alright."

"He was standing, wasn't he?" Blaise quipped, but he leaped up the stairs and followed Dudley none-the-less. It was a few minutes before Blaise actually spoke again. "Dudley, are you…a Mudblood?"

"A what?" Dudley asked, glancing at Blaise with curiosity.

"A Mudblood." Blaise said, as if he should know what it was. And when Dudley didn't answer, he sighed. "A Muggleborn." Blaise muttered, looking down at the floor.

"Why?" Dudley asked, his face starting to burn. He'd already heard enough Muggle bashing from Malfoy and Crabbe and Goyle and several others in the Slytherin common room when they didn't think they could be overheard. But this was a new term. Mudblood...

Blaise sighed, as if he didn't really want to be talking about this. "Just a bunch of things." he muttered, not taking his eyes off of the floor. "Never seen a Quidditch game, didn't know the rules, never been on a broomstick, talking about telephones and cars and things…"

Dudley took a deep breath. "Look, I'm from wizard stock, alright?" He didn't like lying. "It's just complicated."

"How complicated?"

Dudley stopped in the middle of the corridor. "Why? Why do you want to know?" Blaise stopped a few feet in front of him. He finally looked up and met Dudley's eyes.

"Because my family won't let me hang around Muggleborn Mudbloods." He said and his voice was deadly quiet. "I'd rather know now than later."

Dudley swallowed. He sighed. What should he say, what could he say? What could he say that didn't implicate his cousin too? He stood there, blinking. He couldn't find his words.

"Well?" Blaise demanded. "Are you?"

Dudley blinked, staring at him.

Blaise's face fell. "I knew it." he said quietly. Then he turned and walked away from Dudley, leaving him standing in the corridor, mouth slightly open. Dudley didn't know what to say, he didn't know what to do. His stomach was twisting and knotting and his heart felt like it was being squeezed and constricted and he couldn't breathe right. He felt his heart pounding faster and faster and -

"BOO!" came a shout from behind him. Dudley let out a strangled yell, drawing his wand and firing off a jinx at the speaker before he could see them. He watched as the jinx passed harmlessly through the spectral body of Peeves who then blew a raspberry at him and shot off down the corridor, cackling the whole way. Dudley stood there, shaking for a moment, before sitting down on the corridor floor and bursting into tears. He hadn't cried in years. He hadn't thrown a fit in years. He thought he'd never do so again. But here he was, on the stone cold floor of an empty corridor, sobbing like the six-year-old boy who had just realized he would't be seeing his Mother or Father again for a very long time. He sat there for a long time, even after he ran out of tears. Just sitting there and thinking.

It was later that evening when Dudley finally returned to the Slytherin Common Room. He looked about the room, hoping to see Blaise. He spotted him, talking near the fireplace with Draco. Dudley almost turned and walked out of the Common Room, but steeled his resolve.

"Blaise!" he shouted across the Common Room, raising his hand and waving to Blaise who looked up at him with surprise. "Oy, Blaise!"

Draco and Blaise exchanged a look.

"Blaise, we need to talk!"

"Fine!" Blaise shouted back and with a quick muttered word to Draco, walked across the room to Dudley. "What?" he muttered, not meeting Dudley's eye.

"Blaise, we have to talk. I…I need to tell you something."

"You don't have to tell me anything." Blaise grumbled, turning away. "If that's all-"

"No, it's not." Dudley said and with a sudden burst of speed, he grabbed Blaise's arm and yanked him from the Common Room and out into the corridor.

"Dursley, what the Bloody Hell-?!"

Dudley felt Blaise trying to break free, but keep his steely grip on Blaise's arm. He was surprised by his own strength. He yanked and pulled until he had found an empty room and pushed Blaise into it, shutting the door behind them. Blaise lashed out at him and Dudley dodged the punch easily.

"Look!" Dudley yelled. "I just want to talk!"

"About what, Mudblood?" Blaise spat, massaging his upper arm and glaring at Dudley. "Whatever it is, make it quick!"

"I wasn't lying about coming from wizard stock." Dudley glowered. "I'm Potter's cousin, right?"

"So?" Blaise snapped.

"So I'm not Muggle-born!" Dudley yelled. He was getting angrier and angrier. "I was raised by a Squib who passes for a Muggle because of what my family did to me and Harry!"

Blaise's eyes sparked. "What?" he said, his eyebrows raising. "You were raised by a Squib? Because of your family?"

"Yes." Dudley said angrily. "Look, Blaise. I'm trusting you, okay? I've never told anyone this. EVER." Blaise didn't answer, just nodded. "My parents…were abusive, okay?" Dudley said fiercely, looking Blaise directly in the eye. "There's a reason I don't like bullies, Blaise. I was raised by one."

Blaise stood there, blinking at Dudley.

"My Dad was a bully and abusive, Blaise. He…did awful things to me and Harry. So, yeah, we were lucky Miranda was chosen for us. She knew just enough to look for the signs in case…" Dudley swallowed. This was hard. "…in case my father hadn't beaten it out of us."

Blaise's face was no longer angry. It was…blank.

"So that's why I don't know about Quidditch. That's why I was never on a broom. That's why I know all this Muggle stuff and all." Dudley felt himself deflating with Blaise's stare. "I'm not a Muggleborn. I was just raised like one." He felt sick. "Please try to understand, Blaise. You're…you're the best friend I've got here."

Blaise stepped forward, trying to meet Dudley's eyes. "So…so…"

"So?" Dudley said, preparing for a defense.

"So…you're related to the Potters and the Plumridges." Blaise said, seeming to cast about for something to anchor him. "You've got wizards in your family."

"And I'm here, ain't I?" Dudley demanded, drawing himself up. "I got accepted here. I'm here and I'm a WIZARD!" Dudley screamed this, letting loose that primal feeling of feeling like he didn't belong, of wondering when he'd be sent back home, of the teachers realized they'd made a mistake and he'd have to go back-

"Yeah." Blaise said quietly. "Yeah. You're here."

"Isn't that good enough?" Dudley said very quietly, his throat suddenly hurting.

Blaise was silent for a moment. "Yeah. It is." he said with a sudden conviction. "Anyone who says otherwise can shove it." Blaise held out his hand. Dudley grabbed it and they shook hands. It felt like a vow, something unbreakable between them. "Friends?"

"Friends." Dudley agreed, grinning. He felt lighter than he had in weeks. "Thanks."

Blaise shrugged. "Let's get out of here." he said, heading for the classroom door. "I've got to tell Malfoy something."

"I hope you're telling him where his head is." Dudley grinned, following him. At Blaise's questioning look, Dudley's grin got wider. "Up his butt."

Blaise burst out laughing and when Dudley joined in, they made the dungeons rang with their laughter. It was so loud that it woke the Bloody Baron who followed them back down the corridor in a very foul mood indeed.

Author's Notes: This was a bit difficult to write, but I love the result. I really hope you enjoyed it. Thank you!

BTW - You really should check out this awesome book. "Timeless Rose" by K.A. Greeenough on lulu dot com and goodreads dot com. My best friend wrote it and finally got it published, so check it out cause it's amazing story!