Hello! This is my first fanfic that I have had the guts to post, I kept seeing prompts for a fic with Dudley having a magical child and I decided that I would try my hand at writing one. I want to say thank you to Stampeml for being my beta reader and helping me make this story ready to publish. I hope it doesn't disappoint!
Harry looked up from his copy of The Evening Prophet when he heard a knocking at the front door. He looked from the hallway to where his wife, Ginny, was levitating the final dishes from their dinner that night into the cabinets . He could hear the wireless coming from the sitting room and heard the sounds of laughter coming from his children, apparently pleased with whatever program they were listening to.
"Were we expecting someone, Gin?" he asked.
"Not that I know of." Ginny responded, never unfixing herself from her spot in the kitchen. .
Harry heard the faint sound of knocking again, this time more confident than the first knock. Harry set his paper down on the table, got up, and kissed his wife on the cheek,"I'll get it, love!" he said, as he headed towards the front door.
Who could be calling at this hour? Harry asked himself. He pulled open the door and froze.
Standing in front of him was a large, blonde man with bright blue eyes, wringing his hands in front of him. Harry's brain seemed like it could no longer connect with his mouth, he looked at the man standing in front of him. Although he was not as burly as he had once been, Harry had no doubt that he was staring at a man who he had not seen in over 21 years.
"D – Dudley?" he finally managed to croak out, not quite believing what he was seeing.
"Hi Harry," Dudley replied. "I'm sorry to drop in on you like this….do you think I could talk to you about something?" he looked around nervously.
Harry's brain seemed to take a bit longer than appropriate to catch up with his mouth, "Uh sure, come on in. I'll make some tea." He stepped aside to let his estranged cousin in and led him back down the hallway into the kitchen.
"Harry, who was at the door?" Ginny asked as she met him in the entryway. She stopped and cocked her head to the side, looking between her husband and the large blonde man behind him. Harry met her confused gaze with a pleading look , making her eyebrows furrow close together. He usually loved when she made that face, but now was not a time to get distracted by how bloody gorgeous his wife was. More importantly, he had to make sure that she didn't hex his cousin once they were all introduced; the Weasley's were not the biggest fans of any of the Dursley's.
He took a deep breath, his hand rubbing at the back of the neck "Gin, this is my cousin Dudley. Dudley,this is my wife Ginny." Harry said looking between the two, Dudley gave a nervous wave, in which Ginny replied with a short nod. Harry saw Ginny's deep eyes widen briefly with recognition, then saw them almost immediately switch to anger. He cautiously laid a hand on her shoulder and pulled her aside with a whispered hush "He said he had something to talk to me about, so I was going to make us a cuppa. Can you take care of the bedtime routine tonight please?" he asked, optimistic. He was hoping that his wife saw the look in his eyes, the need for support clear on his face.
She leaned up on her toes to kiss him on the cheek, "Of course, love" she said. She gave his shoulder a slight squeeze, subtly reassuring him that she would be back downstairs faster than a Snitch if he needed her.
"Thank you" he whispered in her ear with adoration and affection. Ginny, finally acknowledging that they had a guest, turned to the man.
"Nice to meet you," she said to Dudley, her words terse and clipped, before going into the sitting room to round up their kids. Harry motioned for Dudley to follow him into the kitchen, he gestured for Dudley to take a seat at the table while he put the kettle on. He heard four sets of feet thundering up the stairs and smiled to himself thinking about how grateful he was for the life he had built. What could Dudley want to talk to me about? He couldn't figure it out, but he poured the tea into two mugs and brought them over to the table.
"So, Dudley, what can I do for you?" Harry asked, taking a sip of his earl grey from his mug.
Dudley was wringing his hands nervously, more than he had when he arrived. He took a large gulp of tea before starting. "I'm really sorry to just drop in like this Harry, I just didn't know who else to come to."
Harry furrowed his brows, concern clearly written on all over his thin face, "Is everything alright?"
"My daughter, Daisy, well, she just turned eleven last month. My wife, Anita, and I are very proud, Daisy is the smartest little girl, smart as whip she is. She gets it from her mother, I would say." It seemed like Dudleywas going in circles, prolonging the inevitable. Harry just wanted him to spit it out.
"Dudley, what is it?"
He cleared his throat with a cough "Well, earlier today, she received a letter."
"A letter?" Harry clarified, not sure where the conversation was headed.
"Yes, a letter welcoming her to a new school. It was delivered by…well by an owl." Dudley said looking around the kitchen, eyes landing on the moving pictures in the paper Harry had left on the table a few minutes earlier. Harry saw Dudley pale a bit as he averted his eyes and began fiddling with his mug.
It can't be, Harry's mind was reeling. "Dudley, are you telling me that your daughter got a letter for Hogwarts?"
"That's the place you went?" he asked. Harry nodded in return. "Then yes, it seems that my lovely Daisy is a…..well she's a….um" he stuttered in uncertainty.
"She's a witch" Harry helped finish the sentence for his stammering cousin. Dudley nodded. Ahhh so that's why he's here. It all made sense now, the picture focusing into place. Harry coughed in order to try to cover the laugh he felt bubbling up in his chest. So Dudley had a magical child, and he needed Harry's advice. The irony was not lost on him.
"Now, my Daisy is excited about being a…a witch," he said, more sure of himself, "but Anita and I are not really sure what to do with this information. The only experience I have was with you and we both know how mum and dad treated you." A look of guilt and shame passed over Dudley's eyes when he mentioned his parent's negligence.
He took a deep breath and pressed on,"I don't want to do that my girl, I want to be there for her. But I don't really understand what she is. You see, when Daisy was younger, she used to do some of the same things you did when we were kids. I thought then that maybe I should have contacted you but, I wasn't sure, and I didn't want to freak Anita out. She had never heard of your kind before so I wasn't sure how she would take it. But when we got the letter today, you were the only person I could think of that may be able to help explain this to them."
As much as Harry may have wanted to turn his cousin away for how Vernon and Petunia had treated him. It hadn't been Dudley's fault, and if he had a magical daughter, Harry couldn't bring himself to turn them away. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Listen Dudley, why don't you bring Anita and Daisy around the house tomorrow around 11? We're having my brother and sister-in-law and their kids over for brunch. Hermione is a muggle born," Dudley stared at Harry with a blank look on his face.
"A witch born to non-magical parents" he explained. "She may be able to help with any questions you may have, then Daisy can also be around other magical children. I know the kids would love to meet her." He offered.
Dudley seemed to deflate with relief, "Really? You wouldn't mind?" he asked, looking up at Harry.
"Really, no worries mate." Harry responded, he gathered up their mugs and walked his cousin to the front door.
"Thanks, Harry." Dudley said as he turned and walked down the driveway to his car. Harry closed the front door and sighed. How am I going to tell Ginny?
After Dudley had left, Harry went upstairs hoping he didn't miss the entirety of his children's bedtime routine. He found all four of them piled on his bed with his wife. The smile that spread across his face looking at his family, made him feel like his mouth and jaw might split in two. If you would have asked him 27 years ago-when he was a child living in the cupboard under the stairs where he would see himself at 38 years old-he never would have thought he would have four wonderful children, an amazing wife, and that his cousin would have just told him that he had a magical child of his own and needed Harry's help.
He walked over to the bed, climbing on and pulling Lily into his lap. He listened as each of his children talked about their days, it was amazing to him that his children still sat in bed with their parents to recap their day before bed. He couldn't ask for anything more. Once everyone was done, Teddy, James, Albus and Lily all climbed off the bed-hugging Harry and Ginny goodnight-and headed to respective bedrooms.
Harry leaned over and kissed his wife before getting up to put his own pajamas on. You've got to tell her, Potter. But, before he could say anything, Ginny looked over at him. "What did he want?" she asked shortly.
Harry took in a full breath, "Well, turns out that he has a magical daughter." He said as nonchalantly as he could.
"He what?" she snorted, before he knew it, his wife was full blown laughing at the statement he had just made. "You're joking! That man, who treated you so badly, has a magical child! That is amazing." She pulled back her side of the bedding and climbed in, her laughter subsiding. She moved closer to Harry, resting her head on his chest. "You told him to stuff it right?" she asked.
"Well I – not exactly" he said, rubbing his hand in small circles on her back.
"What do you mean not exactly" she said, he felt her stiffen a little beneath him.
"I sort of...invited his family back for brunch tomorrow." He said tentatively.
"You WHAT?" she asked loudly with a look of exasperation on her face. She shot straight up in bed, whipping her head around to look down at him. "What would make you think I want that man in our home! He was awful to you; you know how I feel about those people Harry James!"
He sat up, making himself eye level with his very angry wife. He could see the fire blazing in her wide, deep brown eyes, her face was pinched tight and red with anger. He reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "I know Gin, but you didn't hear how softly he spoke of his daughter."
"I don't give a - " she started, but he cut her off. "He isn't like my aunt and uncle Gin. He genuinely wants to support Daisy, and I thought that Hermione may be able to help calm their nerves about what to expect you know? She saw how her parents handled her being a muggle born. I thought she may be able to answer any questions he and Anita may have. Explain it to them, so they can understand and not fear their daughter and all she is capable of. Plus, now Daisy can have a taste of what it's like to be around other magical children before going to Hogwarts, and maybe she won't feel so alone."
He held his wife's gaze, she was still seething, but he could see the anger dissipating. He reached out and started rubbing her arm. "I didn't do it for him Ginny, I did it for his daughter. I know what it's like to grow up in a house where no one understands you. I don't want that to happen to her. And if he is willing to learn about our world for his daughter, why shouldn't we help?"
This seemed to put the fire in her eyes out completely. She shook her head and smiled, she dragged him back down to a laying position and curled back into his side. "You and that noble hero complex, Potter."
"I thought that's what you loved most about me, Potter" he said cheekily. He felt her smile against his chest.
"Just one of the many things, my love." She placed a kiss on his chest "I'll be on my best behavior tomorrow." She said, an earnest look in her eye.
"Thank you," he said, kissing the top of her head.
"But you have to be the one to tell Ron." She added, Harry couldn't help but laugh.
"Tell me again why you invited that tosser here." Ron demanded angrily.
Exasperated, Harry said, "Ron, I already told you."
"I think it's great Harry," Hermione added. Harry heard Ginny snort and at the same time, there was a knocking on the door. He got up and headed for the entrance of his home. He opened it to find Dudley with his arm around a tall, skinny woman with brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. Standing between them was a little blonde girl, looking up at him with wide blue eyes that matched her fathers.
"Hi, Harry" Dudley said, "This is my wife,Anita and my daughter,Daisy."
"Nice to meet you." he said, holding his hand out to Anita, who hesitantly took it with a firm shake. He led them through the house into the kitchen where the three adults who had been talking before had become suddenly grown quiet.
After stepping into the room where Harry was previously, he introduced his family to Dudley's. Everyone shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. Ginny looked down at Daisy who was taking in her surroundings, "Daisy, the kids are all out back flying if you'd like me to take you out there" she said sweetly.
Harry saw the little girl's jaw drop "They're flying!?" she asked, eyes filled with excitement. The four adult wizards chuckled at the little girls' amazement, meanwhile her parents exchanged a nervous glance. Harry saw this, understood their concern, and jumped in to reassure them.
"On brooms. But Teddy, my godson, is out there, he knows not to let them go too high. If it would make you feel more comfortable, we can all go out there and watch them." He saw Dudley look at his wife then back at him, he nodded mutely, but they followed them out to the back.
"Oi! You lot! Get over here!" Ron yelled to the kids. Almost immediately the six kids landed and sprinted over to where the adults and one little girl were standing.
"What's up, dad?" Hugo. Ron and Hermione's son asked with an impatient look on his face.
"Kids, this is Daisy, she just got her Hogwarts letter and we thought you could show her around and answer any questions she may have." Harry spoke up. The kids all nodded at him, and one by one stepped over to Daisy to introduce themselves. Once Teddy stepped forward, Harry saw Daisy's eyes go wide with wonder.
"Your hair is blue!" she exclaimed, pointing at the oldest boys' head. Teddy was sporting his current favorite shade of turquoise hair, to his credit the boy just laughed and said, "You think that color is cool, watch this." A second later his blue hair changed to bubble gum pink, making Harry smile and think briefly of the boy's mother, it used to be her favorite shade.
"How did you do that? Can you teach me?" Daisy asked with excitement, watching his hair turn back to turquoise.
"I'm a metamorphmagus, it means I can change my appearance at will. My mum was one, so I can't really teach you." Teddy responded, he saw the little girl's face fall and added "But, if it's alright with your mum and dad, I can teach you how to get on a broom. I'm just as good as Uncle Harry, right?" he said looking up at his godfather.
Harry chuckled, "I wouldn't say just as good" he said teasingly, ruffling the boy's hair. "But you're pretty good, yeah." He looked at Dudley, whose eyes were wide with fear of the thought of his daughter getting on a broom.
"We still have the kids' old toy brooms, they don't go higher than a foot off the ground, and Teddy has had a lot of practice with our kids. You can trust him to make sure she doesn't get hurt." Harry said to Dudley and Anita.
"Well, alright, but be careful Daisy, dear" Anita spoke up before Dudley. A grin grew on Daisy's face as she followed the children through the yard to the broomshed.
"Let's go in and have some tea yeah?" Ginny suggested. "She'll be fine out here, and we can answer any of your questions."
Later that night, laying in bed Harry reflected on the day's events. He couldn't quite believe how well the day had gone. Hermione had explained everything that Dudley and Anita were wondering about and then some. She said she knew from her parents reactions when they found out about her being magical, she knew what they were going through. Daisy seemed to love everything magical and Dudley and Anita had come around pretty well so far.
Ginny had ended up telling Anita that they could come with them to Diagon Alley the following week to get all of her school things, for which she was grateful considering she had no idea what to do or where to go to get those things. The kids had been kind to Daisy, answering any of her questions and showing her what they could. She was actually a pretty decent flyer, if he was being , she was only allowed on the toy brooms, but she had picked it up pretty fast nonetheless. Daisy had become fast friends with the kids and as they were leaving, he had heard her ask her father when she could come back over.
"What are you thinking about love?" Ginny's voice brought him back to his surroundings, she crawled into bed and curled into her husband as per usual.
"Just about how well today went" he answered, kissing the top of her head.
"It did go pretty well, they weren't awful" she answered, nuzzling into his chest. They laid in silence, letting sleep start to wash over them.
"Hey Gin?" Harry asked sleepily.
"Hmm?" his wife responded.
"Thank you"
"For what?" she asked.
"For giving me this life and our family." He said sincerely.
"Anytime my love. Anytime." She said, lifting her head to give him a kiss. She laid back down, and he hugged her tighter. He fell asleep holding his wife, with a smile on his face, thinking about how lucky he had gotten.