Hermione deciding to strike up conversation in the library during the first week of school and them somehow sparking up a friendship from that was a godsend. Dudley sat back for a moment, trying to think back on if he had ever really thought to befriend the girl, but quickly pushed it to the side for priority of the current conversation. Thank goodness he found this section of shelves in the library that hide him from view because it also muffled voices.

"Don't give me that look about voicing it Dudley. I'm not being rude about it, it's a point to take into factor. I mean, it's not like I'm like the boys of Gryffindor who've been using it like a scorn in how Neville is friends with the two of you, which is more house rivalry and I don't get why it even matters when Ron was just fine with you boys on the train. And the girls giggle and think he's both shy and mysterious because of a name. But that name is worth noting and it could be a reason for the Slytherin stands. The crack was right under his feet after all and we're both in agreement it seems to have been done entirely too much on purpose. The why behind it might be someone was trying to do something to the Son-Who-Survived."

He huffed, shaking his head. "But the crack was underneath and between all four of us to start with and I say it's more likely to be something with house stuff. Either it went worse than they expected or they wanted it to be to that extent."

Harry, who had been watching with his chin in his hands with the bright eyed interest of watching a tennis match, leaned forward and piped up. "That's positive coming from you Dud." Dudley scowled. It wasn't like he was always thinking of the negatives or worrying. He shifted in his seat uncomfortably. Harry. It only seemed that way because of how Harry was with stuff. Swinging his feet under the table, Harry just grinned at him and then Hermione. "The stands are just old."

Sending Harry an annoyed look at his repetition of his theory, Hermione looked back to Dudley, mouth pursed. "I don't see why you don't give that a thought. Books and people act like Neville is like a celebrity because of that name and what his...er, because of what happened to get the name." She turned to Neville who went wide eyed at the direct line of attention where he'd been leaning off to the side and slowly scratching along his Herbology assignment. "It stands to reason you would have had some sort of guard on you when being out in the public." She paused for response, barely waiting, then widened her eyes pointedly at him. "Well?"

Neville's shoulders went up and gave a small nod into his chest.

"There. There's my point. And here this happens without anyone around to guard him." Brown eyes went wide. "What if that's why there was a troll in the castle?"

"But..." Neville swallowed audibly. "It was nowhere near Gryffindor Tower."

"Fine, fine." Hermione waved him off, attention back to Dudley. "I still don't have a reason on why you're automatically discounting Neville in all of this. I know he's your friend and has been for some time, but—"

"Albus."

Startled at the interruption and explanation, Hermione pulled back and blinked. "Al... You mean the Headmaster? You should really call him Professor Dumbledore."

Harry automatically snickered. Before he could say it, Dudley reached over and jabbed him in the side. Hermione frowned, brown eyes flicking between the two, trying to figure out what was going on. Neville shook his head next to Hermione, looking to Dudley. If Harry said any of the joke names Uncle James and Sirius and Peter would bat back and forth, then tell Albus to see the reaction, Hermione wasn't likely to take it well. She didn't know mentioning his titles got jokes started up and she would hear it as disrespect. Wiggling in his seat, Harry shifted away from Dudley's finger and leaned forward. "So you mean—"

"You know what," Hermione said hastily. Dudley and Neville turned from looking at each other and nodded at her. "I don't think I want to know what you think I mean. Keep calling him...Albus."

Harry drooped and slumped in his seat, pouting.

"So anyway," Hermione turned back to Dudley. And then she stopped, eyes going up and behind him. "Er, hello?"

Dudley and Harry turned in their seats. With what seemed a very visible lack of interest, Theodore Nott's dark eyes drifted to the bookshelf just behind Hermione. The weedy boy stuck out his arm and displayed his Transfiguration textbook. "Hello." And then sat at the end of the table, pulling out a quill.

Confused, the rest of them all looked at each other. Harry's was very brief. Green eyes lighting up in interest, he grinned at Theodore, who's attention was squarely on the start of his essay. With a quick glance around, even though he likely didn't need to, as Pince had not really gone after Dudley's little found nook, Harry's hands shifted and it took a moment to realize. By the time Dudley did, Harry had already jabbed it over the table edge, then slipped it quickly back into his sleeve.

And Theodore's quill stabbed through his parchment.

"What? Uh, um." Neville trailed off a bit nervously as he shifted in his seat looking at Theodore. His eyes slid across the table to Dudley, sharing a look of uncertainty on what to do, then both putting their attention back to the newly arrived tablemate.

Theodore stared for a moment, then drew his quill up to eyelevel, head tilted in consideration. Then, his lips moved in decided amusement. "Transfiguration stabbed my Transfiguration essay professor, I solemnly swear."

There was a pause as Hermione stared at Theodore suspiciously, then started looking around the table. It didn't take her long to get over the momentary confusion of what just happened to who it had to be. "Harry," Hermione snapped the sharp condemnation.

Harry grinned broadly. Of course his cousin was proud. Dudley shook his head. Harry had spent a lot of time practicing that one in hopes of playing a game of darts for a future Saturday game night with the other Slytherin first years. "But turning a match into a needle all the time gets boring. This way is more fun. It's not like Theodore got more than his name on it."

"Nott."

"Not what?" Harry asked curiously, blinking innocently. Save for the mischievous quirk on his lips.

"Seriously, no," Dudley reprimanded him. Because it did seem at times that Theodore Nott reacted positively to being amused by Harry. Which, wasn't really bad, but it was the way Theodore did it that concerned Dudley. Theodore rewarded Harry for it. Like at the Welcoming Feast, giving Harry the bowl of roasted potatoes for his nonanswer to Dudley's question.

Harry giggled, distracted by the original name joke. "Serious."

Dark eyes drifted upwards. Theodore leaned back in his seat, parchment and essay laying forgotten on the table. "Mmm. I'm not Black, Potter. It's still Nott though. Hopes weren't high this place and others here would lend to a quiet working spot. Still..." The weedy boy sighed, shrugging his body back up and slumping the other way, arm on the table as he propped up his head and his dark eyes drifted across the bookshelf across from him, slowly reading titles.

Given the amount of time he'd focused on it before everything and the amount of time he put into practicing again and again and again, there were a few magic things Dudley had gotten pretty well versed in. Specifically, a charm. And a spell. Trusting that Harry would warn him if Pince did one of her rare sweep by this area of the library, Dudley pulled out his wand and did both. "Repario." The hole in the parchment mended itself. "Reparifarge." The Transfiguration spell Harry had done undid itself back to an ordinary quill. No sharper ends to stab through the parchment again. He smiled quietly to himself, both glad and proud at his progress. Even if he probably had entirely too much practice for his liking in the untransfiguration spell in all of his other practicing of Transfiguration.

Theodore's dark eyes moved back to his parchment and quill. His finger tapped once up against his face, then he begrudgingly straightened up slightly. "Greengrass will ask to partner with you next Herbology class Dursley." His gaze drifted down unsettlingly onto Dudley's face, then sliding past Harry. "Parkinson with Potter."

"How do you go from that to that? And there may be three of us, but you're in their house. Why would you sit with us when you know what Harry is like?" Hermione demanded of Theodore.

Harry perked up and pointed out gleefully. "But you sit with me."

"You sit with Dudley," Hermione gave back even more pointedly with narrowed eyes. Dudley and Neville shared a smile, trying not to laugh at how much, for the most part, Hermione had moved past her misconceptions and infatuation of befriending Harry. The bushy haired girl looked over to Dudley. "And how much more have you been practicing? Your wrist movement is much tighter and smoother."

He ducked his head down, feeling red in the face and called out. "A bit," he mumbled. The truth was that he knew he pushed it. He kept repeating the small spells and charms they gave out to first years, going until he felt a bit faint or faint pounding in his head, stopping before he did have a throbbing headache or passed out. He was lasting for longer amounts of time now. Which meant he was building up the reserves and gaining more, gaining something magical of his own and that he could claim as his. Making it his own and reaching all those goals he had wrapped up in his head. Not just these short term goals, but wanting to really make something of himself.

While he knew Hermione would successfully manage a new bit of magic, practice it a few times, then move onto the next thing, he didn't do it the same way. Dudley was of the mind to really get down the foundation of all the spells this year. Working at variations, doing them repeatedly. It could also be that he was still in awe every time it worked for him. It was still fresh to him. Compared to Neville or her or Harry with their first use of magic. Still, Dudley wanted to really get everything down pat, coming up with all sorts of variations to what they were learning to see what he could do with it all. He knew he wanted to do something impressive with himself, with his life, with this newfound and amazing magic at his fingertips. But he didn't know exactly what yet. So he pushed it on all his classes with constant rereading, looking up other sources, repeated practice, and variations.

Recently, he was starting to become more and more assured of his levitation charm. Maybe not to the point outside of classroom practice to use it freely around Theodore compared to the other three at the table. Hermione loved delving into things with him, the same shared excitement in doing magic and figuring it out. Neville and him shared nerves of not always being the best and so there was no judgement between them either. Then Harry was just...Harry.

Theodore had just sat down with them today and while they were in the same house, Dudley hadn't really talked to him that much. He'd spoken to the other boys more, Draco Malfoy the most because of Harry. So far, Dudley didn't think he'd upset any of the girls, but with any of them, he was not quite sure about anything. Although, he was glad Daphne Greengrass and him had another couple short, very short, conversations about historical people. Which reminded him more about Theodore joining them and mentioning she was going to ask to partner with him.

He had looked at his repaired parchment and fixed quill, but did not thank...

"Let's get back to work on the Herbology essay," Dudley suggested hastily. Across the table, Neville let out a breath and nodded. Harry huffed, but dragged out his parchment and started scribbling stuff down, unaware of Hermione's pursed lips for his version of doing the work. And Theodore...

Dudley snuck a glance up from his parchment rather than reading over his finished Herbology essay. Theodore had gone back to his Transfiguration essay, writing with stiff and precise tiny strokes, momentarily distracting Dudley as he'd expected Theodore's handwriting to be loose and scrawling. He had not truly forgotten those overheard words from the Welcoming Feast, but it hadn't been at the forefront of his mind lately. At first, he'd been concerned, especially with how the Slytherin dorms and showers would be set up for privacy. Considering the old stories Dudley had heard with Gryffindor and their dorms. Not to mention some of the stories of showers in physical education classes after primary. But when it didn't prove to be an issue and the other Slytherins just stuck close together with the stereotype on them, Dudley had set that particular worry to the side. For the most part.

They'd wait. See if he and Harry fit in, prove useful. Keep a eye on Dudley. Well, they weren't exactly waiting around. Theodore was here. And Daphne was going to ask to partner with him. With those observant eyes. Dudley wanted to feel excited about it being Daphne partnering with him. But he couldn't feel that because it was Daphne. With the why behind it. He couldn't work up the excited feeling he wanted to feel with the poised Daphne, the cool poise he so admired, asking to partner with him.

Staring at Theodore still, Dudley thought more about the boy's words and the fact he probably wasn't supposed to say anything. Especially not to Dudley or Harry. Yet Theodore had done it. And had Dudley not overheard that whisper back in September, remembered that whisper from September, Theodore's words easily could have been taken as just informing them before the two girls asked. Except Dudley had heard. So he knew. Dudley's eyes went wide as he took in a sudden breath.

Theodore's dark eyes peered up and blinked in Dudley's direction. Except Theodore had been the one sitting on his other side that night. Theodore had likely realized Dudley knew because Dudley could vividly remembering that he shifted closer to Harry after hearing that whisper. This was his thank you to Dudley fixing his quill and parchment. Which seemed insignificant with how Theodore responded. Any of them in first year and practicing could have done either of those. Letting Dudley in on what was going on, even if Dudley was at a loss of why the change of how they were going about it, this information wasn't worth an easily done charm and spell.

And then he realized he'd never heard Nott's work praised by Professor McGonagall. Nott had sat down with them after pointedly displaying his Transfiguration textbook as to why he was in the library. But... Maybe he was after...help in the subject? No. Overthinking. Yet it did still remain, Nott did sit down with Transfiguration and Dudley couldn't recall his work in that subject being praised.

"I'm done with Herbology," he said slowly. He could always have Neville read through it later. "We can work on our Transfiguration together if that's okay with you Nott."

The other boy nodded, leaning his slouched head closer to Dudley and sliding his textbook with him. Hermione's hand moved faster. "Oh, give me a second to join. I was doing extra inches." Then her upper body turned away, grabbing more books off the shelf to pile up with the other books stacked up on the one side of the table to help block view. She sent a look to Harry. "You will lose if Pince catches us breaking the rule about spells in the library. Which is utterly silly when you think about it since it's a place of study and we are here to study magic, thus need a place to practice and among all the books to look up things is the most logical place to do so."

Black hair popped up, green eyes bright behind his glasses. "I've never lost that game yet. Even with doing any homework, I got this on lock." Harry mimed locking a key through the air and tossing it into his mouth.

Hermione's mouth pursed at him with the reminder, then turned away from that argument. Harry would play the game of lookout even without any prompting. She'd tried to get him to put more work into his homework, but Harry did as he always did. Pay attention to the professor or read along long enough to get a grasp for it, then stop bothering to listen or read more, write his answer and he was done.

Which meant Harry's suggestion from this summer and what Dudley had agreed to and gone along with was probably one of the most questionable and dangerous things he had ever done, but he'd jumped at it. It'd proven to be dangerous with what happened with the troll. Whether it would happen again... Dudley was still looking into that. Because Harry had not been injured in the stands. And Harry, and him, were not open to purposely injuring Harry to see about it possibly injuring Dudley.

At least Harry liked wording around giving an actual answer and was good about never selling out secrets. Even if before this summer, the only secrets Harry had to concern himself with was with animal transformations and a certain thing with Dudley. And it was not as though anyone would think or ask a 'yes or no' question specifically for the thing this summer.

It still worried Dudley. The digging to keep an eye on him and seeing if he fit in. Because Dudley knew he most decidedly did not fit in.

And then as Hermione talked with all her obvious passion and excitement, Dudley found himself being drawn right into it with her as they explained and practiced. Even with the addition of Theodore pulled into the discussion and eventually pulling out his wand, changing how it was usually just shared enthusiasm between him and her, it settled the worries within Dudley. Hermione was a godsend.

Author's Note: Another Sunday, another update. I'm really enjoying how much I can just hear Hermione so clearly in my head with "You should really call him Professor Dumbledore." On top of the unintended side effect and question on how the Slytherin stands cracked open, Dudley is now being reminded of the other Slytherins whispering about keeping an eye on him. How am I at 17 chapters already? Crazy. Thank you to the favorite and follows and to the reviewer Zharkhella.