Chapter 21: The Letter
He didn't know what to say.
No matter how hard he thought, how often he ran his chubby hands through his blond hair, the words just wouldn't come out. He sat all night in that hard chair, in his tiny room, in that blasted hiding house, listening for his father, making sure he didn't find him. But he couldn't come up with the words. His pudgy hand wavered over the paper, gripping the pencil so tight he broke it.
He couldn't bring himself to say "I'm sorry".
And so he sat.
He almost started writing again, then stopped. He refused to congratulate him.
He broke four more pencils, eventually.
The dawn was just coming up on this, the last day they had to stay hidden before they could return home. When, finally, the words came.
Harry-
It's good you didn't die.
-Dudley
Exhausted by the unusual mental exercises he had engaged in that night, Dudley seriously considered going straight to bed.
But he knew he would have no peace until he was rid of the ruddy letter.
Heaving a sigh, he hefted his bulk out of the chair and left his room.
He wondered if he could get Dedalus to let him use an owl.
Next: Pureblood