It had been a largely dull summer, and Dudley felt quite relieved to be going back to Hogwarts. With the Wizarding War heating up, they had been confined to the Burrow. The twins had been caught trying to sneak off to the village when they set off the wailing Sunflowers that Molly Weasley had grew as a security measure. She had yelled sat them for 30 minutes straight while Ron, Dean and Dudley listened from the upstairs window, grinning broadly.
"Here, Dud," George whispered from their room.
Curious to see what he wanted, Dudley left his trunk at the top of the stairs and walked over.
"Got any room in your trunk?" Fred asked.
"For what?" Dudley asked, suspiciously.
"Products," said George. "We know mum is going to check our cases, but she won't check yours—reckon you can squeeze some in?"
"Like what?"
"A bunch of trick wands, some tongue-tongue toffees, our prototype skiving snackboxes ..." Fred began. "We've already got some stashed with Ginny."
"Greedy git charged us," George said, mournfully. "Five galleons."
Dudley laughed. It was quick thinking on Ginny's part. "Go on then," he said.
"Cheers, Dud," George said, and started shoveling handfuls of products into his trunk.
"Why didn't you ask Ron?"
"Mum doesn't trust him either," said Fred. "Ginny's the good little girl ..."
"... or so mum thinks," George inputted.
"... and you're a guest."
Trunk loaded with contraband, Dudley hauled it down the stairs to pile it with the others. Ron's was already there. Luna was bent down rearranging some of the items in her own trunk. Ginny was sat perched on hers and, in Dudley's opinion, looked exactly like she was trying to prevent anybody from opening it.
Luckily, Mrs. Weasley didn't smell a rat and, sure enough, only inspected the Weasley's trunks.
"Not trying to sneak anything to do with Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes into school?" she asked, suspiciously.
"Mum! That hurts!" said George.
"Yeah, who's to say we haven't turned over a new leaf ..."
"... Decided to follow in goody-two shoes Bill's footsteps."
"Now I definitely know you're up to something," Mrs. Weasley said.
She was stopped from investigating further by the sound of honking from outside. The Ministry cars had arrived. There were three of them and a small van for their large pile of trunks. Arthur had asked Minister Lockhart to borrow cars and he had been only too glad to help.
They were also going to be accompanied to King's Cross Station by some members of the Order of the Phoenix. As well as Mrs. Weasley and Bill, Mad-Eye Moody was there, wearing his muggle-best clothes which made him look quite sinister.
It was the first time that Dudley had seen Bill since the murder of Fleur Delacour and he looked pale, drawn and grim. Usually he was quite serious, but cheerful—quick to give him and his family a grin. Now, however, he looked stern and unsmiling. Dudley wasn't surprised. Apparently he and Fleur had been dating.
He and the others had listened in on the last Order of the Phoenix meeting and Bill had been furious, demanding that they go after the Death Eaters immediately. It had taken a while for both Professor Dumbledore and Mad-Eye Moody to talk him down.
Things weren't looking good for the Order, Dudley felt. They had been hit hard by Voldemort's attack on their number. Augusta and Algie Longbottom had left and Bill was showing dissent. Really, Dudley couldn't blame them—even though it seemed that Dumbledore had a plan, it was taking a long time to put into action.
"Everyone read?" Moody said. "Right—let's go over the plan. Dumbledore doesn't expect You-Know-Who to hit us today, but I say, we need to be prepared for the worst. We have Elphias Doge and Hestia Jones flying top cover—you won't see them, but they'll be there. Bill, Molly and I will each take one car. At the first sign of trouble we will apparate the youngest—that's you, Ginny and Luna—out of there. You others buy time-DEFENSIVE ONLY! Do not go on the offensive! Defend yourself and wait for us to apparate you away. Got it?"
They all nodded.
"Dumbledore has spoken to Minister Lockhart. He has assigned a team of Aurors on standby, ready to apparate in at the first sign of trouble, but it may take a few minutes for them to arrive. If I had my way, we'd travel by broom or portkey—but Dumbledore doesn't think there will be an attack, and there isn't anywhere suitable where so many of us can portkey in without being spotted. The drivers are all from the Magical Law Enforcement patrol with orders to get us out there quickly if they are attacked. Dumbledore, Severus and myself have all cleared them. But be wary! Keep an eye on them! If you see anything suspicious—driving in a different direction than the route, communicating with someone—anything at all, notify the Order of the Phoenix member you are traveling with. Understood?"
They all nodded again.
"Do you reckon he'll try something?" Dean asked in a low voice as they piled into a car.
Moody had separated the group, much to Fred and George's annoyance.
Dudley was traveling with Dean and Hermione with Bill Weasley guarding them.
Luna and Fred were with Mad-Eye Moody.
George and Ron were with Mrs. Weasley, much to Ron's annoyance.
"Maybe," said Dudley. "Dumbledore reckons he wants to get me. It's a good time to strike."
"Dumbledore said he doesn't expect an attack though," said Hermione. "He must have a good reason."
"He does," said Moody, overhearing. "But that doesn't matter—constant vigilance. Dumbledore has been wrong before."
The journey to King's Cross wasn't full of the usual jokes and chat and banter. With Moody being there keeping a watchful eye on everything, the journey was a bit awkward. None of them liked to be too loud and it was off-putting when his sinister magical eye spun their way.
The journey, however, passed off without incident and they arrived at King's Cross Station.
They walked towards Platform Nine-And-Three-Quarters in a group with members of the Order of the Phoenix surrounding them.
Ron gave Dudley a nudge in the ribs and nodded his head towards a man and a woman in business suits carrying briefcases. They were stood nonchalantly talking.
"What?" Dudley asked, confused.
"They keep looking around," said Ron. "I reckon they're Aurors."
"You reckon right," Moody said, making them jump. They hadn't noticed he was so close.
"Part of Bones' defence strategy—have the Aurors stationed at King's Cross, just in case. There'll probably be a few more scattered around. Glad to see Lockhart has stuck with some of her policies," Moody said.
They arrived at the entrance to the platform at the same time as another family—Dudley recognized one of them as being Tracey Davies, with her was her brother Roger and a tall, handsome man with thinning black hair who could only be their father.
Moody instinctively moved in front of them.
"Quite a party, Alastor," Mr. Davies said.
Moody grunted. "Better safe than sorry, Davies," he said shortly.
"Hi Dud!" Tracey said, giving him a wave. Roger Davies gave a small nod of recognition. Tracey's smile faded when she set eyes on Luna who was holding hands with Dudley and she frowned.
"You go ahead first," Moody growled, not taking his eyes off Mr. Davies.
"Very well, you go first, Rog," Mr. Davies said.
"See you onboard, Dudley," Tracey said, a little uncertainly and followed after her elder brother. Mr. Davies gave a small nod to them all before following.
"You know them, Professor?" asked Ron.
"Not well," Moody said. "Davies works for the Ministry."
"Tracey is in Slytherin," Ron said in distaste.
"Yeah, but she's not like the others—remember?" Dean said quickly.
"Davies was a Slytherin too," Moody said, shortly. "Which means they're not to be trusted. Though, admittedly, the family does have a good reputation. You can never be too sure."
He clapped his hands together. "Now, let's go. Bill—you and Luna first?"
Bill gave a curt nod and, taking Luna's arm, led the way through Platform Nine-And-Three Quarters."
"Molly, could you take ..."
"The twins," Molly said, quickly. "Come on you two."
"Aw mum, come on!" Fred said.
"Not a chance am I taking my eye off you, move!" she said, sternly.
Ron smirked at Fred and George. Fred stuck his middle finger up at him as he passed. Mrs. Weasley's eagle eye caught him. "Do that again and I'll hex them together. Go on, move!"
"Ginny, you and Ron now, wait on the other side with your mother," Moody ordered.
Dudley could hear Ron muttering irritably about the security measures as he walked with his sister to the platform.
"Keep your head down, this year, Dudley," Moody said, quietly.
Dudley looked up at him.
"Dumbledore's told you that You-Know-Who wants you?"
Dudley nodded.
"Dumbledore thinks he's biding his time, but he will make a move at some point," Moody said.
"Why is he waiting?" Hermione said, quickly.
Moody gave a lopsided grin. "Dumbledore thinks he doesn't want to make a mistake. Dudley's escaped three times now. You-Know-Who is cautious. He's content to wait and see, according to Snape. Now, enough talk, go on—let's join the others."
Dudley felt relieved to be back on Platform Nine-And-Three Quarters. There was 20 minutes until the train was due to depart and the red express was pulled up at the station, belching steam and raring to go.
The platform was a hive of activity as students loaded their trunks on board and said goodbyes to their parents.
The scene was more sullen than usual. The goodbyes took longer and were more heartfelt. Who knew what would happen in the coming months?
"Who's that with Malfoy?" Ron whispered, nodding towards where Malfoy was saying goodbye to an older man. He resembled Lucius Malfoy except his hair was silver. His hair was long and tied back in a ponytail, but heavily receded so that the top was bald.
"Dunno," said Dudley. "Granddad maybe? I hope that hairline runs in the family."
They all laughed at the thought as the loaded their trunks onto the train and then went to say goodbye to the others.
Mrs. Weasley hugged them all in turn, while Bill and Moody each shook hands. And with goodbyes, "love you" and words of warning still ringing in their ears, they clambered aboard the Hogwarts Express to journey back to school.
Lord Voldemort
"It is done, my lord!" said Corban Yaxley. "I've placed the Unspeakable Bole under the imperius curse."
"Excellent work," said Voldemort, giving a nod of approval. Yaxley may have failed to become Minister, but he was still in the upper echelons of the Ministry and still had his uses.
"When will he retrieve the prophecy?" Voldemort asked.
"Tonight," said Yaxley. "When most of the Ministry has gone home for the night. I will send him to retrieve it."
"Good," said Voldemort. "See it is brought to myself immediately."
Yaxley bowed and left the room.
Voldemort smiled. Once he had the prophecy and knew its exact words, he could move ahead with his plan to get rid of any competition. But not until he knew what it said. There would be no more mistakes.
Voldemort was pleased, everything was falling into place. What he needed now, was a big strike that would shock the wizarding world and make them truly fear him. His plan to attack a muggle village had failed, somehow the Ministry had gotten wind of his plan. Lockhart's spy would be murdered-painfully, when he discovered who it was. But now, Voldemort had a new plan-one he would leave to only his most loyal supporters.
"Lucius," he called.
The blond man with one arm who had become more of a butler to him appeared and bowed.
"Summon the Lestranges-Bellatrix, Rabastan and Rodolphus," Voldemort said. It was time to unleash his three most loyal servants onto the world, and, it was time to finally utilize the Dementors. He had kept those waiting in the wings, ready for the right moment. Now was the moment.