For all his childhood years, Christmas had always been like a second birthday - it meant embarrassing hugs and kisses from his mother, and more presents than the previous year. It meant that his father would proudly show him off to his work associates, and claim that he was the best son in the world.

It meant mocking Harry because he had none of those - not the gifts, nor the parents. Somehow, back then, doing that just made Dudley feel better about himself; and he didn't like thinking about why.

It was different now.

There were no presents. There was no one to dote on him, and Dudley rarely even left his apartment during Christmas. He didn't want to see everyone else have what he once had. He didn't want to see people his age happy with their significant other, when his own personality had proven to be too terrible to make new friends after Malcolm and Piers.

That had been years ago, only a couple of months after they had returned to Privet Drive from hiding during Harry's war. His parents had moved to France, and rarely visited - Privet Drive apparently reminding them of magic and Harry and everything they would rather forget.

Three raps on the door startled him out of his musing. Dudley was slow to stand, having not expected visitors. The neighbours usually left him alone since he kept himself out of their way. He didn't understand how his mother could keep up with the gossip that flew at lightning speeds down Privet Drive. It simply made his head spin.

Harry stood outside his door, glancing around uncomfortably. Dudley could spot the flickering of the curtain of the house across the road.

"Dudley," Harry greeted, relieved. "I was starting to wonder if you'd gone out to celebrate Yule."

Dudley allowed his surprise to show, and ushered his cousin into the house. "I didn't expect to see you."

"I wasn't entirely sure I would come either." Harry laughed, walking further into the house. "Are you alone, or have I missed all the guests?"

"Nah. I rarely have guests over for Christmas," Dudley said, shrugging. The television blared from the lounge, and Dudley hurried to mute it.

"Do you want to come over and celebrate with us? I mean, if you think you'll be comfortable around magic," Harry asked after a long pause. "It won't be much like you're used to, but I reckon it's still probably better than being alone."

If Dudley were to be completely honest, he wasn't sure if he would be welcome. He still remembered Harry's friends have to break the bars on his bedroom window to escape with Harry; and the tall redheads that gave him the terrible sweet that made his tongue awfully long.

"No sweets?" Dudley asked cautiously.

Harry's expression tightened minutely. "I can't promise no pranks, but there probably won't be many. And they definitely will try to target as many of us as possible."

Dudley didn't think that was much reassurance, but looking at his abandoned house, Privet Drive was even less assurance.

"If you're sure no one will mind," Dudley said finally, uncertainly.

"I think they'll mind more if they knew you were celebrating alone."


The Golden Snitch [Uagadou, Biloko]: 12 Days of Christmas – 12 parrots prattling: Write about Dudley Dursley during Christmas