Chapter 11: Striking Similarities

Later that night Draco was sitting in front of the fireplace in his study, he was in deep thought about the course the afternoon had taken and what possibilities that may lay ahead.

Maybe the muggle could be more than just a means to an end, just maybe he could imagine himself actually enjoying spending time with the guy after his plan had given fruit. Maybe Dudley were an exception to the norm of muggles being dumb, of them being without purpose for him in more ways than in him using them for an end goal.

He had had a great day really after the very tasty breakfast and the time in the air, he had felt more as himself and more filled with life than he had done in a really long time.

Being on a broom had felt like coming home, he had felt so free even being within the restrictions of his probation. He had wanted to show off, he loved having an audience and for some reason he wanted Dudley to see up to him and see him as cool and interesting, not only so that he later could tell how awesome Draco was to Harry. He genuinely cared for what the other guy thought of him, it was almost scary and he had a hard time finding a solution to why that was.

He had made them both dinner after a much needed shower, he had made someone else dinner because… he had felt like it? He shook his head wondering what the world was coming to. It had been a really comfortable evening though and he would not change it if he could.

Also what had started out to just be teasing and a little fun light flirting because he could and it was amusing seeing the other boy´s reactions, had somehow started to feel more serious. It almost seemed like their interactions shifted towards friendly banter instead of teasing.

Draco shuddered, it was not cold in there and he was sitting in front of the fireplace for merlin´s sake. But was he actually considering the possibility to see the muggle boy as a possible friend?

This was not what he had planned, he had been lonely and desperate for company that was true but to actually become close to someone that he had started a relationship with because of his own intentions not caring the least about the other part didn´t seem very smart, it seemed kind of reckless and reckless was not something Draco Malfoy was. It was really something more fitting a Gryffindor then any pure Slytherin.

Draco knew that the truth usually always got out somehow, he had planned to not care about if Dudley ever found out, he had even planned on using blackmail on the guy if he found out and planned on telling Harry. He imagined telling Harry himself after they had come close enough so that he would understand that he had done it for his own reasons but that Dudley had really gained on his actions anyhow even if that had not really been one of his concerns at the time.

Now though he wasn´t so sure anymore, sure he still wanted Harry and all but what would happen between him and Dudley when his intentions was brought to light was not insignificant anymore. He even had to admit that he was going to miss the guy if he wasn´t there when he woke up one morning. He even had to accept that he wanted to get to know the guy better, he had started to see the boy as more than a muggle, as more than only Harry Potter´s cousin.

Consequences be damned he was going to do what he wanted, he was going to make the time up to the undeniable confrontation count. But really if he told the truth when the time came he may even be forgiven. Really he had already established that the guy was a Hufflepuff at heart, they were known for giving second chances, he was also related to Harry Potter and to him forgiving someone was second nature.

So he may have to earn the forgiveness. He signed, had to be so exhausting to be so noble all the time. But really how hard could it be, just being genuinely sorry and show that he really meant what he said. He was also really good with words and with making people believe in him.

He could not go about befriending the guy without a solid plan though. No the approach had to be clever and result in him gathering information and getting enough facts to be able to make a smart decision.

He had to know if the guy was worth the bother, he had to know if the potential friendship was something that the guy wanted and not something he would just do to be on Draco´s good side.

He needed to know if the guy had the qualities that he desired in a friend. He needed to follow his intelligence and use his cunning abilities and not rely on fleeting feelings and just jump head first into the situation.

How to do this then? Maybe it was time for a little drinking, maybe with a little spiking of the beverage. He smirked to himself, yes that was an excellent idea. Not too much just a little push to get him taking.

He was so going to get his answers in the coming hours.

He got out of the arm chair and headed out of the room with a powerful stride, he headed for his potions supply then he was going to make a detour for the firewhisky before he was going to give Dudley a little visit.

LOTB∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞DD∞DM∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞LOTB

Dudley was laying on his bed in the gracious guest room he had been provided when he had arrived at the manor. He looked around and was struck with the feeling that the room had started to feel like his own, it had started to feel a bit like home. He now felt more at home at the manor then he had ever felt in his room at number 4 Privet Drive.

He smiled, here he was free to be who he wanted, to find out what he wanted. He had no obligations or need for masks, he felt more alive than ever. After the day he had had he had thousands of reason to feel elated, coming out had turned out to be one of the best decisions he had ever made even if it had also been one of the hardest.

Sending that letter that had been meant for Harry had been an impulse and now he could not imagine how hard live would be if he had not done it. He was so lucky to not only have gotten his life back but to also have met someone that he felt with time could understand him. He had never thought he would have that, ever.

Life was full of coincidences, a chain of events that made up a networks of moments, one small occasion going in a different direction could change the end of one's chain dramatically.

Dudley had never thought he would say that he would ever feel like he accepted everything that had happened to him, his mistakes and wrongdoings. But right now he felt good, he felt happy.

If this was what his life would be from now on he was okay with everything, he forgave himself and his parents. He was content in the moment.

He relaxed more into the matrass, laid his hands behind his head and looked up at the canopy of his room that was charmed to look like a starlit sky. His smile spread and he closed his eyes thinking he even looked forward to waking up in the morning.

He hadn´t more then closed his eyes before there was a knock on his door, and he was startled to an upright position. His door creaked open and a blond head peaked in, Dudley´s heart started pounding a bit faster and he couldn´t help but blush at his uncontrolled state.

Draco looked a bit hesitant, probably from waking him up Dudley thought. To ease his conscious he ushered him in "please come in, was there anything you wanted?" he asked and Draco opened the door further and took 2 long strides into the room.

Behind him floated 2 glasses and a flask with an orange liquid. Draco directed them to his bedside table and with another flick of his hand the door closed. Dudley wondered if he would ever get used to being around magic, it still seemed weird and a bit unbelievable.

Draco conjured a plush armchair before he sat down and crossed his legs turning to Dudley "I thought it was time to get to know each other a little better, and for you to try a wizard alcoholic beverage. Firewhisky?" Dudley watched as the 2 glasses was filled with the orange liquid. What he did not however notice was how Draco managed to transfer a drop of a clear potion into the glass he handed to Dudley.

Dudley was not a big drinker, but he was curious and it was impolite to decline when offered, "thank you, and I would really like getting to know you better too." He smiled a little nervous and why did he have to blush all the time, so frustrating.

Draco did a pleased expression, something in between a smile and a smirk. But what really captured Dudley´s attention was his eyes, they had a mischievous glint in them and they seemed more alive than Dudley had ever seen them before, it was almost like he was calculating every movement Dudley was making.

He spaced out a little when Draco lifted his glass and took a small sip, his tongue coming out to catch a drop of the liquid that was making its way down the outside of the glass.

"… so I was a little curious." Wait Draco had been talking to him, he had no idea what he had asked him. He twisted a little uncomfortable and looked down at his own lap, "sorry, miles away" he smiled sheepishly and tentatively looked up at Draco "can you repeat that, please?"

He had not expected the response to be load laughing and the skin around Draco´s eyes to crinkle. "Sure, no need to apologies. I asked if you would mind telling me why you and Harry was not on good terms when growing up." Draco gave an encouraging smile that made Dudley feel more at ease.

He did not feel like talking about his pretty depressing childhood though, he was on the verge on telling Draco that when he thought that maybe he could tell it in a very simple way. To get his courage up even more he took a big gulp of the alcohol in front of him. He coughed a bit before taking a deep breath, the name really was fitting, the liquid had literally burned on the way down his throat.

He heard a chuckle and send a mock glare Draco´s way, the chuckle only intensified "not a big whiskey drinker then" the expression on Draco´s face was now definitely a smirk. "You see Harry was very popular in school so I have a hard time to understand why he would be on odd ends with his family, what is the history there?"

Dudley was still planning on giving an easy explanation but he found himself almost compelled to tell Draco everything and that was also what came out when he opened his mouth.

"He was never a part of our family, not really. My parents, well they didn´t take Harry in because of their kind hearts, they did it out of obligation." Dudley took a big breath, now came the hard truth and Harry was Draco´s friend so how would he react to how they, how he had treated Harry all those years.

Draco nodded at him to encourage him to keep going. "He was made to do house chores, before he went to your school he lived in a cupboard under the stairs. I used to jump down the stairs to make his "room" shake and dust to fall down over him, as a wakeup call." He felt ashamed admitting to this and it would only get worse, he had done so much childish things.

"We used him for whatever we did not want to do, he was starved, sleep deprived and at times he was even physically abused." Dudley had beaten him once, only one punch but it had been enough for him to end up puking in the toilet afterwards and he had after that never done it again.

Draco looked a little surprised, but he was masking it well, if he didn´t were so good at it himself he would probably have missed the emotion fleeting over Draco´s face. It shouldn´t come to a big surprise though, a family that threw out their son for being gay was probably not the most tolerable people.

"I bullied him a lot, he was never my brother" Dudley closed his eyes "he was more like our slave."

When he opened his eyes again Draco was looking curiously at him, he almost missed the single word that he uttered to get him talking again "why?"

"They didn´t really want Harry, later when he started showing magic abilities it was only one more reason that they thought justified treating him badly." He thought for a moment before he added "he was different, it was more than enough in their eyes."

Draco had cooked his head and it seemed like he was thinking his words through carefully. "I notice you use the word "they", also in your letter you wrote how much you regret what you did to Harry, if that is true why did you do it?"

That was a much harder question, he was tired, but once again he felt like he had to answer. "I didn´t know better at first, my parents told me what to do, what was right or wrong. I didn´t want to disappoint them, I wanted them to love me so I was who I thought they wanted me to be and did what they expected me to do."

This time the follow up question came without pause "and later?"

He really didn´t want to answer that but something or maybe it was just Draco that made him keep going although reluctant. "I had my reasons, I had problems on my own and Harry was a reminder of those problems. To take my frustrations out of him made it easier to be the person I thought I had to be at the same time as I was able to suppress my unnatural emotions."

Draco uncrossed his legs and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, coming a lot closer to Dudley. There was something fleeting again this time just in his eyes, had that been hurt noticeable in the grey orbs for a split of a second? Dudley shook his head, probably just an illusion.

Wetting his lips, which made Dudley a little uncomfortable, Draco inquired "unnatural emotions, you realizing you were gay?" Dudley nodded not feeling like talking about it, especially with Draco. "Being gay is not really so bad you know."

What was he talking about? He knew Draco had to be okay with it, he had taken him in and not treated him any different even if he had known, but still. Dudley knew that it was not wrong being gay, he knew that it was not unnatural and that it didn´t made you into a freak.

It did however made him different from a lot of people, after being told what to think and feel for so long it was hard to listen to what he knew instead of what he had been taught. He also knew that being different didn´t necessarily meant something bad, that didn´t make him like it though. He signed, he had a long way until he was ready to accept every aspect of who he was, until he was able to love himself.

It was then that it hit him, that statement, did that mean?

"How do you know what it´s like?"

Draco looked surprised before it seemed like he silently cursed himself "personal experiences."

When Draco didn´t go on Dudley was close to just let it go but he had just shared so much so why shouldn´t Draco do the same? He had said he wanted to get to know him better and that included sharing life experiences.

"You mean you´re gay? You´re parents took it well, you´re lucky."

The room echoed with a laugh, it was a sarcastic laugh though not one out of happiness. The expression of Draco´s face could not be mistaken either it was one of repressed anger. Dudley saw that Draco had filled his glass again, maybe the alcohol was starting to affect him making him showing more emotions.

"Lucky? You are me a funny one, they were okay with it as long as I would marry the pureblooded witch they chose for me and produced the heir that was obligated of me. How I did that was not of their concerns, pureblooded wizards having lovers on the side is not that uncommon you see."

After setting down his glass he was pacing the room before giving another sarcastic laugh. "You know the really fun part, I was going to do just that. Then came a war were we served a mad man and my parents lost everything giving me my freedom. Or well, will give me my freedom after the probation ends that is." Draco turned around and looked at Dudley square on "so if you think a war is lucky, you are absolutely right."

Dudley was speechless, so if Draco and Harry where friends why was he on probation? Harry had won the war for the light side, the ones that was not out to kill him and other muggles if he had understood it right. Draco had been on the other side? He had a lot of questions that he felt like it was not the time to ask at the moment when they were both not under the influence, this topic was also not for people that was getting to know each other.

There was one thing that disturbed him though that he had to ask "you hate muggles?" There was a knot growing in the pit of his stomach, he did not know if it was because of the alcohol or because of worry. Why had Draco helped him?

The man in front of him looked a lot more tired than only minutes before and he slumped down in the chair he had abandoned before.

"I thought I did a long time ago. I was only afraid for what I didn´t know though, and I was taught you, I mean they were a lesser species and that they were worth less than a house elf. Then came V… the mad man and I understood I had never hated anyone or anything before. We are all really just human." Here he took another breath and looked him in that calculated way again "I think my relationship to everything muggle is like your relationship to magical things."

A breath he didn´t know he had been holding left him as Dudley realized they were really more alike than a first glance could ever tell. Being vary of something you didn't know and something people around you despised and was not shy to tell you about, was something Dudley understood to 100 %.

After that they let go of the heavy topics, they had both made mistakes that they regretted, life was so much more than your past.

They stayed up talking and a few hours later, half the bottle of firewhisky was gone and they were both giggling on the covers on Dudley's bed.

Draco smiled and pointed up towards the starlit canopy of the room "that´s me" he said proudly. Dudley snorted "you´re a staaaaar" he giggled "ah it´s not that strange, you shine like one, you´re so bright and bea…" he stopped when his muddled brain caught up to what he was about to say and smiled sheepishly instead.

Draco didn´t seem to mind though and laughed "noo stupid, it´s a constellation, Draco that is" he pointed again at some stars to the right.

"Cool" he exclaimed much more enthusiastically then needed although it was really cool. He got an impulse and blurted out "Draco, do you want to do something, with me?" he was not asking him out on a date, he was just asking because he wanted to live a little. Do something with his friend because they were friends now right? He nodded to himself, yea they definitely were.

He smiled when Draco nodded enthusiastically "do what?" he wrinkled his nose as if thinking really hard on something, Dudley giggled at that, he was so cute.

"I know, like um Pizza and the London Eye?" Yes, he had such awesome ideas, he loved pizza and he had been so sad when he was 9 and had been sick when his class had gone to London and had gotten to ride the giant Ferris wheel.

"What´s that?" Draco asked tiredly. Dudley frowned, who didn´t know what pizza was? Poor guy. Maybe it was a strictly muggle thing, Dudley chuckled remembering Draco´s clothes the first time they had met, he really didn´t know much about muggles. "You´ll love it, I promise, please say yes."

Draco looked like he was going to fall asleep right there any minute now, he had taken one of the decoration cushions and was hugging it to his chest, and Dudley once again thought he was so very cute, he almost said so but luckily stopped himself.

"Sure if it will get you to quiet down, I´m sleeping, good night."

Dudley was so excited, maybe Draco didn´t know what he had agreed to but they were so going to London. He suppressed a happy noise as Draco was already asleep beside him.

Within minutes Dudley had also hogged a pillow and was fast asleep dreaming about magical pizzas and Draco actually being a star, his star.