The week leading up to Halloween was actually quite interesting. Not only had Professor Flitwick, the Charms Professor, set them some Halloween themed homework - they were to work in teams of three and enchant something to be spooky - but the week itself had some secrets to be revealed. When the news of the Halloween project was told to the class, Dudley got excited, he looked over to Harry and Hermione and told them he had the perfect idea for them.
"I have a bunch of pencils with my stuff, my parents insisted I bring them, perhaps we could charm them to move like a skeleton. Sure it would involve a bit of transfiguration but surely you two are good enough with that area of things enough to make that a moot point." He finished with a grin on his face and Harry raised an eyebrow asking Dudley.
"I thought you said that you had no imagination, I guess Hogwarts has worked her magic on you between September and now, I'm really proud," Harry teased, pretending to wipe a tear from his eye, to which Dudley punched his arm gently and laughed with him.
"We should go to the library as soon as we get the chance, so we can get started on this."
When in the Library, the trio decided to go to three different parts of the library. Harry got the Transfiguration books, Dudley the charms, and Hermione, who was already sat down, her muggle biology books to improve the anatomical accuracy of the skeleton they were making.
"Just because I'm studying magic doesn't mean I can't get a Muggle education also" she informed them when asked why she would bring her biology books.
Speaking of education, Dudley had finally had some success. He managed to successfully cast Wingardium Leviosa, Flipendo, and Lumos. Though the last one was more like a match than a torch he was still proud of his progress. Hermione and Harry, however, had managed all the first year spells and a couple second year spells. Wanting to improve further and faster the boy also checked out some books on magical artifacts that were lost to history. Those books would be helpful during his free time.
Later that night while he was in bed, Dudley was reading the first of his books, this one about Hogwarts related artifacts, and was amazed by the power of some of them.
"One of the most sought after artifacts relating to the founders of Hogwarts is the Diadem of Ravenclaw due to its ability to bestow upon the wearer vast knowledge and an increase in magic skill. It is said to provide true wisdom, giving someone not just knowledge, but also the ability to use that knowledge effectively. Some speculate that a previous attempt at the creation of such an artifact resulted in the creation of something known as the fountain of wisdom. However it is of the belief of the Author that such a thing doesn't exist. Perhaps it once did, but Ravenclaw tower has been searched many times for the Diadem and neither item has shown up."
'Maybe that would be a good claim to fame, finding the Diadem or fountain or indeed any of the many artifacts listed in the book' was the boy's last thought as he fell asleep.
The last day of October, more commonly known as Halloween, was one of the strangest days in Dudleys life. For a start the sheer level of decorations and little touches of Halloween all around the castle would have elicited at least one comment from his parents about degeneracy. Dudley, however, didn't care about his parents' thoughts on this matter, as for once he knew they were wrong. How could something this magical be wrong? He wondered how Christmas would look, however he knew he was going back to Privet Drive as his mom couldn't bear the idea of going any longer without seeing her 'Duddykins'. Just thinking about that nickname made him shudder. He just imagined the look of glee on Malfoy's face upon finding out about the dreaded nickname.
While walking to breakfast, he literally ran into a redheaded boy who looked vaguely familiar.
"Watch it you slimy snake". The boy instantly shouted before realising that this particular snake was an enemy to Malfoy. He continued with. "Sorry, thought you were Malfoy, or one of his goons." The boy went almost as red as his hair when Dudley replied with.
"Can you get off me now before someone sees us in a pile like this." He then laughed and, when the boy offered his hand, Dudley took it and got up, dusting himself off, and followed up with. "I'm glad I'm not Malfoy. He's always 'My father this' and 'Mudblood that'. Honestly, it must get tiring." He finished with a grin on his face, before remembering that he was exactly like that a few months back and then the realisation that a part of him wanted to go back to that norm. He shuddered a little. Ron, thinking the shudder was about Malfoy, laughed and patted Dudley on the shoulder and told him,
"You're alright for a snake." He then walked off towards the Great Hall, Dudley entering shortly after. If only the rest of the day was as pleasant.
P.O.V. change to Harry for the rest of the chapter, it will skip around in time a bit.
The train journey to Hogwarts was very uneventful, not the least because Harry had hidden himself away at the very back of the train, but because he had spent the brief time between learning he was a wizard and now studying concealment charms, all of which were on the door to his compartment. His door wasn't invisible, but people would just ignore it. He was researching a more powerful variant for use on himself. It would be a lot easier to come and go to look for information if he could make himself nearly invisible.
Harry had to admit to himself that he was pleasantly surprised that the Dudley kid didn't hesitate, even though he knew no magic. He reminded Harry of himself if things were different. He seems like someone who knows how to get their way, through different means admittedly, but still, he was more helpful than he probably believed when it came to the 'duel' with Malfoy. What a joke, first the boy challenges him to a duel and then he fails to cast a simple spell in the time Harry crossed their impromptu dueling arena. He laughed to himself as he fell asleep thinking this year would be interesting.
'I have an aunt' was the thought dominating Harry's mind as he paced by the forest. An aunt named Petunia Evans, he discovered her by mistake when a passing article about his parent's wedding mentioned she wouldn't be attending due to a falling out with Lily. Lily, his mom's name is Lily. He could almost cheer when discovering that his middle name, James, was his father's name. Lily and James Potter.
What's more is they died as heroes. Actual heroes. He imagined their faces, but then after turning the page promptly proceeded to drop the book to the floor. For on the next page was a picture of him, his mom, and his dad. He had then ran out of the library to the forest where he was now.
"I wonder if she has a husband and kids. What are they like?" With how beautiful his mother was, his aunt must also be beautiful. While wrapped up in his musing, he didn't notice a group of Slytherins approaching him, they didn't notice Harry as, of course, he was under a notice-me-not charm.
What he did notice was the sound of malicious laughter and followed the sound till he saw a boy being dropped in the pig sty.
"This can't be good" the boy thought to himself and walked over when he saw the large group leave.
Harry noticed recently that his friend Dudley was coming out of his shell, despite the best attempts of their fellow Slytherin first years and some of the older years, he was proud to see him become who he truly was. Not who his parents wanted him to be and not the person his friends were making him into, Harry distinctly remembered the conversation between him and Dudley leaving him with a very distinct dislike toward a lad named Piers Polkiss. 'Wait, why do I care if Dudley has some dumb friends?" The boy thought to himself, wondering where the moment of bitterness came from. Sure, he wasn't the warmest person due to the Orphanage, but recently he noticed sudden bursts of emotions that he knew weren't normal.
'Maybe it's because I'm closer than I've ever been to finding family.'
Halloween was a truly dreadful affair.
''It's like they're rubbing my parents murder in my face'' He raged when Dudley asked him why he was so upset. "I can't go 10 minutes without someone thanking me for killing Voldemort *Dudley shudders at the name, having heard all about him* its fucking unfair" he finished.
"I've never celebrated Halloween either. My Father has always said it was for vagabonds, layabouts, and ne'er-do-wells. My mother says that it's a worthless Pagan tradition. I don't dare tell her about Christmas. There's a time to be right and a time to shut up so you still get presents. Hell my parents still think I believe in Santa Claus…" He trailed off and Harry smiled.
"Don't worry. I'm not upset with you for talking about your parents. It's kind of nice to hear what a family is like. It sounds like I would have had a better life at your house." Harry joked then shuddered as if someone had walked on his grave. Then wondering how that must have looked to Dudley continued with. "The Orphanage was an evil place and I'm already trying to ensure that I never return there except to burn it to the ground. He finished, the unexpected rage burning again.