Dudley knew that something significant was happening in the world today, if not for the feeling in the air, the song alone would have told him that. He knew that it was the same song Luna and he had heard together and wondered what would be the cause of it.
As the chorus began to swell he was kicked out of his ruminations by the sight of fire, a fire that was immediately extinguished with water from the lake as Dudley acted on instinct, interrupting one of the sparring sessions he was supposed to be observing.
"What have you learned?" He asked the group of annoyed students, deciding to turn it into a teachable moment.
"Don't let you observe our future fights, the lake is bloody freezing." One of the students joked as he shivered.
"Not quite." Dudley responded, waving his wand to dry off the students properly. "Even though you are battling an Earth Elemental, you should always be prepared for any element to be used against you, for example, any Earth Elemental could rise and drop large boulders into the lake and quickly rise above the tsunami."
"I had never thought about that." The Earth Elemental responded. "I'm definitely going to train that technique, thanks Dudley."
The Earth and Fire Elementals resumed their fight and Dudley watched as the former tried to improvise a usage of the idea Dudley had just described.
/^^_^^/
Later that day he was talking to Nora about meeting up this summer, something that made the pair very excited as it had been way too long since they had last spent any time together.
She was currently finishing her last year of College and trying to decide between pursuing a career as a Neuroscientist or a Psychologist.
"I'll support you through any choice you make, between my magical studies of the brain and your muggle studies of the brain, we will be the most well respected couple in the mental health area of treatment."
"Ah Dudley, always thinking of the future. I don't see why I can't do both studies, I mean it will take me a long time to do both but it should be worth it."
"If anyone I know is able to pull that off it is you Nora, I miss you."
"I miss you too." Nora responded. "If it wasn't for the ambient magical energy powering this ring I don't know what I would do."
"I never did thank Harry for modifying a ring for you. In fact I don't think I've ever thanked Harry for anything he has done." Dudley acknowledged quietly.
"Do you feel like you should?"
"Yes, of course."
"Then do it, I'm sure he will appreciate it."
There were a few moments of silence as Dudley thought before he replied to her suggestion.
"Alright. I think I will."
The couple spent a few hours talking about what they would do when they met up, with Nora mentioning that Dudley would love the forest behind her house and Dudley acknowledging that he probably would.
/_,^_^/
"Where did you go yesterday?" Elias asked his older brother, who adjusted his glasses before glancing at the floor. "Derek and I were going to ask you if you wanted to spar."
"It looked as if you were about to kiss." Harry responded, looking uncomfortable. "I Really didn't want to see that."
"Why, because Derek is another guy? You do realise that Draco and Ron are a couple, so are Neville and Theo." Elias shouted, irate at Harry. "I can't believe my own brother would be so shallow minded as to be grossed out by his brother kissing another guy."
"You misunderstand me, I have literally nothing against you for liking guys, I just don't like the idea of you being grown up enough to have a boyfriend."
"I'm not some little child, I'm a fourth year, I can handle a relationship."
"I know, it's that which worries me. I know I need to accept that you'll be an adult in a few years."
"So… what do you want to do?" Elias asked his brother.
"To be honest, I would really like a few hours to just do nothing."
"Well then, let us do nothing together."
/-^_^-/
"Are you sure he won't be angry at me?" Hermione Granger asked her boyfriend Blaise Zabini. "I feel like such a disappointment to the Vipers."
"Why would Harry be angry at you?" Blaise questioned. "Daphne, Elias, Neville, Derek, Draco, and Ron are staying at Hogwarts, Dudley, Theo, Luna, and I will be going with him. We will be fine out there and I can contact you at any moment, well between lessons and whatever."
"You always know just what to say to reassure me." Hermione responded, leaning over to kiss him and sit in his embrace on the floor of the Charms classroom while it wasn't in use.
/_^_^_-/
Dear Draco
I know you wished for me to stay away from the Life-debt that Harry Potter owed you, I also know that you planned to use it to prove your worth. It is with this knowledge that I must apologise for my weakness in allowing myself to fall under the Imperius curse, I must confess myself to be very embarrassed by this turn of events.
I have been put back in contact with an old friend who promises a return to peace and the chance to move forward as a society.
I look forward to seeing my Heir during the summer holidays.
Affectionately
Lucius Malfoy
"What's the letter about?" Ron asked Draco after he put it down and scoffed.
"Father admitting that he is showing signs of weakness I guess he truly has changed if he is willing to open himself up to being deposed by me as Lord of the family."
"Burn it. You know I don't like it when you talk about threatening and blackmailing people. Let's just get some food and relax."
"It never fails to amaze me just how likely you are to choose the easier option and relax." Draco joked, earning a fake laugh from Ron who ended up walking with Draco while lost in thoughts.
Am I really the sort of person who would do what is easy and not what is right? What would Professor Dumbledore have thought about me? Ron thought to himself, the entire time feeling like a disgrace to the name of Gryffindor.