Choose Your Own Drarry

Warning! You will NOT be able to read straight through this, chapter by chapter. If you attempt to do so, you will be VERY confused.

^^ Instructions – will repeat (and be expanded) at the end of this chapter!

YOU decided that Harry should thank Dudley for an interesting evening, but tell him he's ready to go home for the night?


Chapter Eleven (from chapter 6)

Harry looked at his cousin and sighed. "As great as it's been to run into you, I really think it's time I call it a night."

Dudley nodded.

"I mean, I have a lot to think about...you know, with Ginny leaving me and—"

"The gay thing," Dudley finished for him.

Harry rolled his eyes. "You're not going to let that possibility go, are you?"

Dudley laughed. "Fuck no!" he said. "Not until you at least give it a go...or at least a serious thinking. I mean, I know we harassed you about it a time or two when we were kids, but...it was stupid. I was stupid and...there's nothing wrong with being gay. Hell, I love my friends and, now that Gordon's figured himself out..." Dudley shrugged. "God, I can't even imagine thinking any less of him for being the man he is and for falling for Evan."

"Wow. You are sooo not the boy you used to be," said Harry.

Dudley shrugged. "I grew up. We both did," he said. "And hey, it's nice to see that you've grown too...literally, I mean." The larger man grinned. "You're not at all scrawny anymore, eh?"

Harry laughed. "Naw. Seems eating more and time has done me wonders."

Dudley frowned. Harry'd certainly not been fed enough growing up...and had also been denied a lot of things that he himself had had tenfold. "I'm so—"

"Dudley. Stop," Harry interrupted. "Hey, how about you come over for that Firewhisky we talked about?"

"I do have to drive back to London," Dudley supposed, shrugging as he turned the key in the ignition of his car.

Harry grinned. "Yeah, but...let's go back my way," the green-eyed man suggested.

Dudley blinked. "You m-mean like...that disappeary thing y-your kind does?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah. I mean, it's not the most pleasant way to travel, but I can Side-Along you with me and we'd be there in a snap!" he said, snapping his fingers. "No wasted hour in the car. It's very efficient."

Dudley frowned. "But what about my car? I'd be there and it would be here."

Harry shrugged. "And I could bring you back later on tonight. Or tomorrow; you could always stay at mine. I have plenty of space. Loads of empty bedrooms."

Shrugging, Dudley nodded. "All right," he said, turning off his vehicle, then pocketing the keys. "Mum'll wonder why my car's still here, but...fuck it!"

Harry laughed. "Brilliant! I'll just Apparate us into my house," he said, holding out his arm. "You'll have to hold on...and not let go. It's very important that you not let go."

"Okay," Dudley said, nodding as he reached out and grasped Harry's forearm.

Harry did the same to him, and they both held on tight. "Ready?"

Dudley nodded. "Ready."

And suddenly everything changed. One moment they were sitting side by side in his car—Dudley had had every intention of closing his eyes and keeping them pinched shut, but he was curious too and so he opened them—and the next he found himself in a very large kitchen.

"Wow!" he burst, glancing around his cousin's long, but narrow—and extremely cluttered—kitchen. "That was like...being shoved through a stretchy straw or something."

Harry laughed. "That's sort of how I described it once too," he said. "Forced through a very tight rubber tube, I believe I said. I'm surprised you didn't vomit though. A lot of people do."

Dudley scoffed. "It takes loads more than that to upset my stomach, Harry," he said—then, almost proudly, he smirked and said, "Besides...my wife's a witch."

Harry gaped at him. "What? You're shitting me! How the hell did that happen?!"

Dudley shook his head and shrugged. "Not shitting you. And...long story...which I'd rather not go into tonight...if you don't mind."

"Yeah. Sure. No problem," agreed Harry—though he was pretty close to pushing the issue. He was floored! "Gotta ask one thing though...do the parents know?"

"Mum does, but we're keeping it from dad," Dudley responded. "He'd definitely have a coronary."

Harry snickered—he couldn't help it—not that he wanted his uncle to have a heart attack, even if the man was a prick.

"So. This is the kitchen," said Harry.

"Obviously."

Harry laughed. "Right. I'm good at stating the obvious. Sorry."

Dudley shrugged.

"Okay. So. Warning. I have house-elves. They're sort of creepy...that's why I'm giving you warning...just in case one or more of them show themselves."

Dudley shuddered. "Yeah, I remember that one that ruined mother's pudding."

Harry laughed. "That's right. I'd forgotten about that." Then he looked sad. "Dobby was killed during the war...saving me and my friends. My owl as well."

"Sorry," Dudley said, frowning.

Harry shrugged. "Many died. I was lucky enough to have good friends around to watch my back...and others there who weren't such good friends, but saved me anyways."

There was an awkward pause where Harry seemed to need a comforting hug and Dudley desperately wanted to give him one—but neither moved to embrace the other.

And then the moment passed.

"I remember your owl," Dudley said quietly. "Hedwig, was it?"

Harry nodded, smiling.

"I was always so jealous that you had that bloody bird," Dudley admitted. "I tried to get mum and dad to get me one too, but..."

Harry laughed. "She was a good friend. I miss her."

"You haven't gotten another?"

Harry shook his head. "I wasn't ready. I probably should now though."

Dudley nodded.

"So. I'd like to change," Harry said. "If you want a tour of the house, you can come with."

Dudley grinned. "I'd love to get a look at where you live, Harry."

"All right. This way then."

~oOo~

Harry led the way up and into his house, showing his cousin things here and there. He told him about Walburga Black's horrid portrait and warned him to keep quiet as they came out the basement door and onto the ground floor landing. They didn't stay there long though, immediately going to the staircase that went up to the first floor. Here, Dudley grimaced at the house-elf heads on the wall.

"I keep meaning to take those down, but...Kreacher has a complete conniption every time I bring it up."

"Creature?"

Harry chuckled. "One of my house-elves," he said—then explained. "He's lived here for decades and wants his head on the wall when he's dead...like it's an honor or something."

Dudley shuddered. "Gross."

"I know, right?!" said Harry as they wound around and went up another flight to the second floor. "So, the first floor had a drawing room and some bedrooms," he continued, pointing down. "Second floor here has a pretty good library and some more bedrooms. Third floor, master suite, office, another smaller library, and a lady's lounge. Must have been Walburga's...I don't often go in there. The whole place needs to be gutted, actually." He paused and started up yet another level. "I stay on the fourth floor in my godfather's room. I don't know why I've not moved down to the master...I just...I'm not ready. Though maybe, if I get a new owl, it might be time to change some other things."

Dudley nodded. "It's time, Harry."

Harry sighed. "I know. So...there are just two bedrooms on this floor," he said as they reached the fourth floor landing. "And a gigantic attic above us."

Dudley nodded—then frowned. "You share a room with your godfather?"

Harry shook his head sadly. "No. Sirius was killed in 1996. I inherited the house after then."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

Harry shrugged. "So, this is my room," he said as they entered. "It's a bit juvenile, but..." He shrugged. "I don't mind. Makes me feel close to Sirius.

Dudley looked around and laughed. "It's very...red."

Laughing, Harry nodded. "Sirius was in the same House at Hogwarts that I'm in...was in," he corrected, frowning. "Our colors were red and gold."

"I see."

"Go Gryffindor!" Harry cheered.

Dudley chuckled.

~oOo~

On the way back down, Harry led them into the drawing room, where he planned for them to hang out—just in time to see Ron, Hermione, and Ginny step through the Floo.

"I'm telling you, Hermione," Ron Weasley was saying. "I was here an hour-ish ago and he wasn't here!"

"I just...need to see for myself, Ronald," Hermione Granger said, brushing soot off her cloak—then nodding smugly. "And look, he's here now."

"And he's not alone," Ginny whispered, her eyes wide as she bit down on her lip to prevent it from trembling. She couldn't help but stare at the man standing beside her boyfriend—ex-boyfriend, she had to remind herself.

"Ahh...hi guys. You remember my cousin, Dudley...right, Ron?" It was said mostly for Ginny's benefit—despite everything, he didn't want her to get the wrong idea—but Ron might need to be told too.

"I...ahh...yeah, of course," Ron stammered, frowning a bit.

Dudley gave a wave, but said nothing.

"Went out for a drink and ran into him," Harry continued, trying very hard to not look at Ginny Weasley. "We talked about going out again...with some of Dudley's friends...but...I just sort of wanted to come home instead. So I brought Dudley with."

Harry couldn't help himself, his eyes strayed from his friends to Ginny—she looked very upset...sad—then back to Ron and Hermione.

"Oh. Sorry to just barge in," said Hermione, always the quickest to recover.

Harry shrugged. "It's fine. You know you're always welcome," he said, his eyes straying to Ginny. "All of you are. Always."

Hermione grinned. "Thank you, Harry," she said—then grabbed Ron's shirt sleeve and tugged a little. "We won't stay. We were just worried. Ron dropped by earlier and you weren't home. And we..." She glanced at Ginny. "Well, we felt like we should check on you."

Harry smiled. "Thank you."

"Of course, Harry," Hermione said, stepping forward and holding out her hand. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Dudley. We've been friends with Harry since the beginning of school. I'm Hermione Granger and this is my boyfriend Ronald Weasley and his sister Ginny."

Dudley smiled at the three of them, then took Hermione's small hand in his much larger one. "It's nice to meet you, Hermione. All of you, actually. I'm glad Harry's had friends like the three of you...goodness knows our family wasn't very good to him." He blushed.

Ron snorted and opened his mouth to retort—something not at all nice—but Harry said, "There'll be no more of that, Dudley! It's done."

Dudley gave an almost indiscernible nod. He didn't agree with his cousin and felt there was loads to make up for, but...he wasn't about to embarrass Harry by going on about it.

Hermione, on the other hand, smiled. She was glad to see the growth in her friend—and glad to see that he seemed to be making amends with his relatives. Blood relations were important.

Ron and Ginny just frowned. Ron wanted to kick Dudley Dursley in the teeth and cause some pain. Or hex him, at least, for the shite he'd put Harry through. But he was smart enough to know the actions wouldn't be appreciated—not in the slightest. And so he kept his wand in his pocket, his feet firmly planted on the floor, and his mouth zipped.

Ginny, however, did not stay quiet. Squaring her shoulders she stepped forward to greet Harry's cousin. "Dudley," she said, extending her hand. "Like Hermione said, I'm Ginny. I'm Harry's...ahh...was his girlfriend." She bit her lip again and glanced at Harry.

Dudley nodded and took her hand, smiling sympathetically. "Yes. Harry gave me a heads up. Sort of."

Ginny blushed crimson and looked at her feet.

"Anyways," Harry cut in, "we were just going to have a drink. You're all welcome to join us...if you want."

"Yeah, don't leave on my account," Dudley added. "I'm more than willing to get to know Harry's friends...after all these years."

The three exchanged looks. It was clear that Hermione wanted to stay...as much as Ginny appeared ready to bolt. Not out of fear, mind you...no self-respecting Gryffindor would be afraid of visiting with a Muggle, especially a Weasley. Ron, on the other hand, looked confused. He would probably leave is Hermione did, even though his first instinct was to stomp out with his sister.

"So...what'll it be, guys? Firewhisky's all around?" Harry asked, grinning.


Time to choose!

Should Harry's best friends stay for a drink—or three? (go to chapter 18)

OR

Should Ron, Hermione, and Ginny bow out and let their friend have the evening alone with his cousin ? (go to chapter 19)


Notes/WARNINGS!

(repeated from chapter one)

1. Do NOT attempt to read this chapter by chapter...that will NOT work!

2. This is my version of a Choose Your Own Adventure book—and, as the title suggests, you are partially in control of the story.

3. At the end of MOST chapters, you will have to CHOOSE which way to go and go to that chapter only.

4. New chapters will be put up periodically...I currently have NOTHING else written, but will still be writing...if there is interest. *crosses fingers that someone is reading*

5. I will TRY to always complete all end-of-chapter choices before updating. This will be tricky, because, with each chapter, comes more choices...which makes for a lot more writing for me with each update...unless I end a branch, which I've already done once (chapter 5 had a "The End").

6. You can think of this like a tree, with MANY branches...with chapter one, there are only two choices...but once chapters two and three are posted, there'll be two more choices for each—which means four more chapters. Four chapters = eight choices...eight chapters = sixteen choices...and so on. And so, some "branches" MUST be ended...or rerouted (I have one "The End" and now one reroute). Complicated? Yeah!

7. It will be...IDK...two weeks...before I upload more. Please be patient.

Questions/comments? Message me or review. Thanks for giving this a go!