21-Dudley

Dylan was not surprised when Harry informed him that Dudley measured a solid twenty two. While quite low, compared to adults, and very low when compared to Harry, this was more than the average for children his age, as far as Dylan knew. It also meant that Dudley had magic and should be offered a chance to join the club, like his cousin. Dylan wasn't sure how well the fat boy would fit in. Although he had improved quite a bit during the last year, he was still a pampered brat and occasionally a bully, as far as Dylan heard from Harry and from Lora. But wasn't he preaching about treating all the children in a household the same? Shouldn't he at least try to act that way?

But first, Dudley's binds should be removed, if Harry's assessment was right. That would raise his measured magical potential too. For that he needed to make the Dursleys cooperate. Easier said than done. Dylan spent some restless nights thinking about the problem until he found a way that would hopefully work.

That Sunday, he asked the Dursleys to stay behind. After everybody else left, he sat with them. "How is Dudley's performance at school now?" he asked. He actually knew from Lora, but they seemed oblivious to his connection with their son's teacher.

Petunia looked proud when answering, "He's doing much better now. Dudley doesn't brag, but Harry tells me that they're both about the same level." She then changed her expression. "Unfortunately, he has occasional lapses, when for a day or two he loses his concentration again. We don't know what to do about it."

Her words were just what he was hoping for. "If that's the case, I fear there's something similar to what Harry suffered from until he was treated. I'm sure it's not as severe, since it doesn't have any external manifestation, but it should still be treated."

"Well, you helped with the boy. I'm sure you can do the same for Dudley," Vernon intervened. It wasn't very polite, but it fitted Dylan's plan.

"I'll need your permission, just like before and I'll try to set a meeting as soon as possible. I'd also like to meet him on Tuesday, when Harry comes here, so I can prepare him for what he's going to face."

Petunia stayed polite. "Of course, Reverend. I'll send my approval with the children on Tuesday. Anything else?"

Dylan smiled dismissively. "It's a nice day outside. Go enjoy it."

\/\/\/

Harry came with Dudley to the church on Tuesday, instead of going to Longbottom Manor for the club. Dylan had asked Augusta to supervise the club that day since he had some unexpected change of schedule. The old lady seemed quite eager to do that. Unlike him, she had a mastery in Potions. It didn't matter much at this stage, of course, but she liked teaching these kids, who seemed eager to learn everything. He didn't need to say anything about Harry, since the boy told Hermione and she could inform the others at the meeting.

"Do you have your parents' permission?" Dylan asked.

Dudley took a slightly crumpled piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Dylan. "Dad said it was enough if Mum signed," he added.

Dylan put it aside. "Now, Dudley, I need to tell you a bit about the treatment that could help you and some more, but first I have a few questions. Can you tell me how you feel about Harry?"

Dudley didn't seem to mind. "Harry is now my friend. We should have been friends since we were babies, but Dad thought that Harry's a freak and wanted us to 'beat the freakishness out of him.' It didn't work, of course. Besides, if he's a freak, then I am more so."

"What do you mean?"

Dudley looked around, as if verifying they were alone. "Do you think Magic is real? I do. I've seen some things happen that only magic can explain. Dad always blamed them on Harry, but I know I caused at least half of them. I didn't want to, but I knew it was me when they happened."

"So, you think you have magic?"

Dudley nodded.

"When did you first realize it?" Dylan was really curious now.

Dudley shrugged. "Can't remember. It was easy to pretend that everything was due to Harry, as my father said. Then, when Harry got his own room, and I started getting chores, I started to understand it better. It all started after Harry began meeting you. Did you help him?"

Dylan didn't want to lie. "I tried to help him. I wasn't sure I could do much, but a child should never be abused the way Harry was."

"You also knew about his magic, I think."

"I did," Dylan said.

"Are you also magical?" Dudley asked, looking straight into Dylan's eyes.

"I am. I wasn't aware of your magic until Harry told me. Your magic is bound, as was Harry's, probably to prevent events of your magic getting out of control. I don't know who did it, though."

Dudley gave it a thought. "Maybe whoever left Harry with us. Then, it could also be my aunt. She may have noticed I was magical and bound it until she could talk to my parents. She didn't make it."

"Who told you about her?" That was news to Dylan.

"Mum told me. I had a temper tantrum and then some things started falling or breaking. She slapped my face to stop it, like she never did before. When I calmed down, she told me I had magic like Harry and his parents and to make sure not to let my Dad know."

Dylan sighed. Things were always more complicated then they seemed. At least his job was easier this way. "We shall be able to check who bound your magic before the bind is removed. After that, I'd like you to come along with Harry and exercise your magic with me and a few other children. This will make it less likely for you to let your magic loose. Do you agree?"

"To learn to do magic? Sure!" Dudley seemed quite eager.

Dylan spent some time telling Dudley about magic, about the goblins and about the way he intended to take him there. Dudley became quite enthusiastic about it.

"You should tell nobody about magic and all that you're going to learn with us. I'll go into more details after your treatment."

"I won't tell Dad, but I think Mum already knows," Dudley said.

"Why do you think so?"

"Before she sent me here, she told me that you're probably a wizard and that I shouldn't be afraid if you take a wand in your hand, since you're a good man. Do you need a wand to do magic?"

Dylan sighed. Dudley seemed to have turned as smart as Harry, or quite close. He still needed to answer. "I learned to do magic with a wand. I'm now learning to do it without one, but it's difficult to change my ways. I'll explain some more after your treatment."

While they were talking, Harry took his drawing pad and started drawing. With their conversation over, both Dylan and Dudley approached Harry and looked at the drawing.

"What is this?" Dudley asked.

Harry continued drawing and answered absentmindedly. "Oh, that's the plant Madam Longbottom showed the club how to prepare. I liked the way it looked."

"But you stayed here with us," Dudley reminded him.

"Sure. I just saw it through Hermione's eyes."

Dudley didn't know what to make of this answer. Dylan knew what it meant. The children were tightening their bond even further.

Harry finished his drawing and only then noticed the two looking at him. He then probably remembered what he said. "Oh, I said too much," he noted in a depreciative tone.

Dylan didn't let him feel bad. "Dudley will tell nobody, but I'd like to understand what happened."

Harry considered his answer for a moment. "Well, I asked Hermione to keep me updated with what they'd do today. She told me about the plant. When I didn't understand, she tried to show me, and it worked!"

Evidently, Dudley didn't seem to understand. "May I explain this to him too?" Harry asked Dylan.

Dylan nodded his approval.

"Hermione is one of the girls in our club, as are the Johnson sisters from church and also Neville and Daphne who joined our class at school this term, and a few others. Hermione is very smart and very beautiful and we're going to get married when we're old enough for that. We can feel each-other's thoughts and now we can also let the other see what we see."

Dudley just shook his head. This was probably too much for him to comprehend all at once.

\/\/\/

The next day, Dudley came alone to the church, and Dylan shifted with him to Gringotts. It was a simple and quick ritual to free Dudley from the binds. There were actually two binds. One had been cast by Lily Potter when Dudley was a few months old. The other, more extensive binding, had been cast by Dumbledore when he left Harry there. Dylan wasn't sure how it was done, since Dumbledore hadn't entered the house, as far as he understood, but he also knew that Dumbledore was far more knowledgeable than him.

The goblins also found another problem, not caused by magic. Something in Dudley's mind was slightly out of tune, making it hard for him to concentrate and pay attention. A single dose of potion took permanent care of that. He would no longer need any ADHD treatment.

Just before walking Dudley back home, Dylan checked his magic, getting a nice thirty one. There was no doubt about Dudley having magic. He was quite a powerful wizard for his age.

\/\/\/

Petunia Dursley was glad that it all went so quickly. Dudley returned home early enough to have to wait for dinner, since Vernon was only due back in about an hour. Dudley didn't mind. He just took a book and tried to read. He was surprised to find that he enjoyed reading, something he could never have enjoyed before, even with the help of those medicines.

After dinner, that went as usual, Vernon took his place in front of the television set. Petunia urged the children upstairs, into Dudley's room and closed the door.

"Is your magic unbound now?" she asked Dudley.

"Yes. The goblins found two binds. One by my aunt Lily and one much tighter by Dumbledore. They removed both. They also corrected my concentration problem."

Petunia was unable to hold her tears. She grabbed her son in a tight hug. "Oh, Dudikins, I'm so glad for you!"

A moment later, she turned serious. "You should now make sure to never lose control of your magic. If your dad finds out… Better not even think of that."

She turned to Harry. "Can you teach him some control? You had no incident since you started visiting with Father Roberts. He's also a wizard, isn't he?"

Harry nodded. He knew that his aunt was far from perfect, but she was quite sharp. Maybe now, that both Dudley and he were together in this, she would become more helpful. He didn't really dare to hope.

\/\/\/

Dylan, on the other hand, felt some apprehension. Dudley was very different than the other children. At least he seemed to be different. Could he fit in? Would he even want to? With his attention deficiency healed, the boy seemed much smarter than before. It was still no guarantee.

At least he had two classmates, along with Harry in the club. He was sure that Neville would try to help Dudley fit in, as would Harry. He wasn't so sure about Daphne. She sometimes acted like a snob, although this rarely happened at the club. He could ask her to help, though. It was still unsure, but she usually tried to do as he wished, when it didn't go against her own wishes.

He then thought of adding another girl to balance Dudley out. It wasn't a gender balance; that was not his intention. It was more about attitude. The girl he had in mind came form a very eccentric magical house and could be the antipode for Dudley's conservative muggle upbringing. Luna was only a few months younger than Harry and, as far as he'd heard, was quite smart. Well, her parents had been top of their classes in Ravenclaw. He would check on her as soon as he could.