Chapter 14
The day after his birthday Harry had an enjoyable breakfast with the Weasley's. Harry could sense that things still hadn't gone completely back to normal, no one sat in the seat usually occupied by Fred and Mrs Weasley had taken the clock off the wall and Harry guessed she was carrying it round. George had left late the night before and slept at the shop and Percy was quiet and hardly talking. After breakfast Harry got dressed, said goodbye to everyone and walked towards the edge of the boundaries so he could disapparate. He ended up in a familiar area and started walking to reach his final destination. Finally he stood looking at a place he thought he would never see again, or want to see again.
Number 4 Privet Drive stood in front of Harry. The lawn was green even though there was water rationing schemes in place. He was thankful to see, however, that there was no car on the drive, that meant Vernon was at work. Hesitantly Harry walked up the drive and to the front door. As he reached up to ring the doorbell his hand froze. Did he really want to do this, he thought. Maybe they hadn't changed and this was all a big mistake. Shaking these doubts out of his head he plucked up the courage to ring the bell and felt himself hold his breath for someone to answer. After what seemed like an age, the door opened and Harry's cousin, Dudley, stood in front of him. Dudley was no longer the fat child but a muscular young man.
"Harry? Did you get my card?" Dudley asked eagerly, slightly in shock at Harry visiting.
"Umm hi … Dudley. Yeah I did get your card, thank you. Is umm …. Is your dad here or at work?" asked Harry, wanting to check.
"He's at work. Hestia Jones fixed it so that he could have his old job back even though he was away for a year. Come in, come in," he said. Harry stepped inside and remembered the last time he was here. He had thought then that he would never be back, but things had changed. He had been so surprised when, as they were leaving, Dudley showed his nice side.
"Mum! We have a visitor!" called Dudley. Petunia came through from the kitchen and gasped as she saw her nephew in the living room.
"Harry? What are you doing here?" she asked. But it wasn't said in a threatening way as it usually was. She was curious.
"Well, I got yours and Dudley's cards yesterday and Dudley said that maybe we could meet up. I have lots free time at the moment so thought I'd come. I guessed that Vernon would be at work, I don't think he'd be too pleased to see me," explained Harry, quietly nervous.
"You sent Harry a card?" asked Petunia looking at her son.
"Yeah, I wanted him to know that I've changed and ... and that I don't hate him," said Dudley.
"Well, sit down, can I get you anything to eat? Drink?"
"Umm just a glass of water would be great thanks." Harry sat down in the chair whilst Dudley sat on the sofa looking at his cousin. Harry remembered when Dumbledore had visited the Dursely's and sat in the very chair Harry was sat in.
"So … that scar on your forehead … that's where …" began Dudley, trying to get the words out.
"That's where Voldemort tried to kill me when I was a baby," Harry finished for him.
"I never … I never realised. I thought your parents died in a car crash and that it was their fault, I never knew they were murdered," explained Dudley.
"So, did you enjoy living with wizards?" asked Harry.
"It was amazing. At first it was a bit weird and I didn't like it. But then they told me all about your world and Hogwarts and magic and everything. They did spells too which I thought was amazing," gushed Dudley.
"Here you go Harry," said Petunia as she came back into the room with a glass of water for him. She joined her son on the sofa and looked at Harry.
"I … I just wanted to say sorry, for how I behaved whilst you lived here," she said slowly. It was hard for her to say and Harry knew this.
"Umm thanks, but … it all turned out alright in the end," Harry said. Living at the Dursley's in this house was the worst time of his life. Sleeping in the under stairs cupboard until he was 11 was horrible. Treated as an outcast and hidden away from visitors. Being forced to cook meals when he was only a young boy. Harry's childhood had been miserable but at least Petunia was apologising.
"Why did you treat me so badly?" asked Harry, wanting an answer.
"It just … sort of happened," said Petunia, not looking at her nephew. "Vernon was convinced you were … a … wizard because of your parents and said that if you were treated badly then maybe it would go away. I knew it wouldn't but I couldn't stand up to Vernon. He's my husband and we'd just had a baby of our own. So … I went along with it. When I looked into your eyes it was like Lily staring back at me and I was mad at her for leaving me at home so it made it easier. I know I should have been nicer and forced Vernon to stop being mean to you but I couldn't," by this point Petunia was nearly in tears and Dudley was looking at the scene.
"Do you realise how I felt growing up? Having to live in that cupboard, cook all your meals. Then when I found out I was a wizard and you treating me even more like an outcast! It's not my fault my parents were magical, I can't help it."
"I know, I know. But … I didn't know what else to do," cried Petunia.
"And it wasn't just you. Dudley, you used to bully me at school, set your friends on me, make my life here hell," said Harry. He couldn't hold it in any longer. All the anger inside him was coming out.
"I … I … I was scared! Dad said that I shouldn't be nice to you. He said that you deserved all you got. Then when you came back from school … and you had a … a wand … dad said that I should ignore you … that you could never fit in with … what he called normal people," replied Dudley. "I'm so sorry Harry. That's why I wrote to you. I can see that what I did was wrong and I wanted to apologise. I didn't realise what you went through every year, facing all those dark wizards. If I'd have known about Cedric I never would have teased you about talking in your sleep and saying his name. But I know now … and I'm not like my dad. This past year I've grown a lot and I want to make amends. I don't want to be like my father … please ..." said Dudley. Harry was in shock. He could tell that Dudley was being sincere. It was probably the most Harry had ever heard Dudley say. Things had certainly changed.
"I guess … that I can see where you're coming from. I just wanted you to know what I went through. I want things to be different now."
Harry left an hour later. Saying goodbye he promised he'd visit again soon, or at least arrange to meet somewhere. Dudley seemed pleased. He was no longer friends with his old gang because of being away for a year and he had changed so didn't want to get involved with people like that. Petunia warned him that Vernon would be furious if he knew of their meeting and Harry promised that he understood and would be discreet in communication. He didn't really know how he felt about seeing them again. Apart from his angry outburst the visit had gone fine. He supposed he'd have to wait and see how future meetings went. Apparating back to Grimmauld Place he opened the door and was surprised to find Charlie coming out of the kitchen.
"Hey Harry, I brought Ginny here. She wanted to see you after your meeting with the Dursley's. Mum said we can stay the night if that's cool with you," explained Charlie.
"That's great. Is Ron here too?" asked Harry.
"He and Hermione disappeared upstairs more or less the moment we got here," smiled Charlie.
"Oh … right." Harry missed Ron. But it was weird because he still saw Ron all the time. He was always at Grimmauld Place visiting. But he wasn't visiting Harry, it was Hermione he wanted to see. Harry missed being able to chat with Ron without other people being present. They were best friends but now Harry felt left out.
"Ginny's in kitchen helping Kreacher cook dinner, I'll be in the library, there are some interesting book in there that I haven't had the chance to read."
Harry opened the door to the kitchen and was greeted by Ginny running over and hugging him.
"How did it go?" she asked as she pulled away from him.
"It was … good," said Harry, sitting down on a chair and Ginny sat down next to him.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I said what I needed to say, they apologised and I believe they meant it. I'm going to see them again."
"Maybe one day I could come?" suggested Ginny.
"Of course, but maybe it had better be just me next time, don't want to overload them," said Harry.
"I understand."
"Master Harry, the shepherd's pie is ready, shall I serve it and then call the others?" said Kreacher.
"You serve it and I'll go get the others," offered Harry and he stood up and left the room. Going to the library he saw Charlie engrossed in a book, telling him dinner's done Harry then made his way to the second floor and Hermione's closed door.
"Erm … guys, dinner's ready," called Harry after knocking on the door. Ron opened the door quickly.
"Great, I'm starving," he said.
Over dinner Harry told the others about the meeting with the Dursley's and then Charlie told them all about how hard it was searching for a job.
"But I thought the Ministry had loads of jobs going?" asked Hermione.
"Yeah but I don't really know what I want to do now. I want to do something I enjoy and I don't think a desk job at the Ministry is going to be enjoyable for me."
"Oh Harry," said Ron as they all cleared away the plates. "I've been thinking. We haven't really talked in the past few weeks. How about tomorrow night we go to the Leaky Cauldron for some drinks and catch up?"
"You know what Ron? That would be perfect," smiled Harry. Maybe there was a way for Harry to still have his best friend. Sure things had changed since him and Ginny and then Ron and Hermione had gotten together, but he would have to get used to it. As long as they remembered to make time, Harry and Ron could still be best friends.
"Good. Well, who's up for a game of exploding snap?" asked Ron.