Wow: First of all I am so sorry this took so long- I've been having some major problems at home which on top of everything else had given me no time to write. Still, excuses wont change anything. I'm going to keep going with both my stories (and am even considering doing some one shots to help prevent writers block and practice different styles without mucking up this story).

This is the long awaited Dudley chapter and takes place around chapters 6 and 7 while Harry is talking to Fred and Grudge and then Kingsley.

Thank you so much for sticking with me and the next chapter s already underway (It's also the chapter where my name contest will finally end so any suggestions should come in now!)

As usual I own nothing and gain nothing but the lovely words you all give me. Thank you so much for all your reviews, they really inspire me to keep going.

Dudley was freaking out! What were those evil beings doing here? What could they possibly want in a normal neighbourhood like his…? 'Oh yeah: cousin' he thought. It's odd, he never really regarded Harry as a cousin or even a real relative unless his 'kind', as his dad called them, were about. Curious considering they were the whole reason Harry wasn't a part of the family; if he could even try to be normal his parents might treat the boy better, but no: he had to be strange!

Figuring the cost was clear he peaked round the corner only to see his bag was gone, either stolen or taken by those twin nutjobs… so stolen by a thief or stolen by freaks, great. Maybe he could make his dad order Harry to get it back for him. Then again it would probably explode or spew spiders if he did.

Sitting down on the curb Dudley decided to contemplate his options. He would have to get home quickly, that's for sure, but if those two were wandering the streets that probably meant so was Harry.

That thought alone made him think: his cousin was never a sociable person (thanks in part to him he'd admit) but now he was a full blown recluse. He didn't even seem to come down for food! And his mum certainly wasn't providing any… do wizards need to eat? That would certainly explain a lot like how Harry could go a week with no real meals as a child… he'd have to test that theory at some point. Then again maybe not; he liked all his limbs and other body parts in their current location thank you very much, and most certainly not need antlers, extra ears, or anything else these lunatics could think up! They didn't seem to need much provocation. it was odd how the other freaks seemed to humanise Harry in his mind. But why did they always pick on him? He never did any wrong! Sure he argued with his cousin, but so what! It's not like Harry was any better...

Only he was.

Harry had saved him, less than a year ago. Saved him from some fowl creature's just moments after Dudley had been taunting him. That night had been played over and over in his mind. Every word, every sound, every feeling, and that name.

Cedric. Dudley never did learn who he was, but he could figure out one thing:
He was dead.

Harry, his cousin, knew someone who had just died, and Dudley had mocked him about it. He had mocked him for being traumatised by what must have either been a terrible accident, or from his cousins sleep talking, a murder!

And moments later, less than 2 minutes he'd wager, he'd been saved by the very same boy.

The same boy who's life, now he truly considered it, he- Dudley- had done everything possible to make terrible. Not hard, not uncomfortable: a true definition of living hell.

He'd beaten Harry, isolated him from having friends, mocked him, destroyed what little self esteem he had, framed him knowing he'd receive horrendous punishments from starving to beating to confinement… and yet, in Dudley's own time of need, Harry had risked everything to save him.

He wasn't stupid; they both knew Harry could have been expelled, and if that happened he'd loose his education, his friends, his chance for a job, and with that, his chance to escape a hell Dudley himself had helped to create.

No wonder Harry's friends hated him: a tail and sore tongue were nothing compared to a childhood devoid of love, friendship, or even the most basic rights! Dudley realised there was a major difference between his parents and Harry's friends: when it came to those friends Dudley never got anything from them that he didn't deserve!

He thought back to that night, what he had heard, what he had seen, but most of all: what he had learnt.

He had seen himself, bullying people, both Harry and the other kids at school and in the neighbourhood. Himself feeling hard done by for not having the newest bike while his own cousin had nothing. He had seen how he had hurt so many people. Thing he used to take a spiteful glee in. actions that made him feel powerful. But without any of the joy. It was like all the good times in his life had been shown to him from a twisted and cold point of view. Days spent playing with friends became relentless hours of cruelly tormenting others. His mother's fresh baked cakes became the product of hard and thankless labour from his cousin who's only reward was harsh words and punishment from belts and burns. Christmases became just any other day in which his parents would spoil him while his cousin sat isolated and in pain.

While all these thoughts were flowing though him, like an icy river waiting and wanting to drag him under, a small beam of hope shot through him, like the branch he could cling to and hope it floated him to salvation. It was unexpected and absurd. But it just might work.

Suddenly, he was glad those strange twins had returned! Because just like Harry had saved him from that icy coldness, he would help salvage what was left of Harry's life. He may not be able to change the past but he knew the future could still be saved! All he needed was some help, and with that in mind, Dudley headed home- praying he hadn't missed his window.

…

Dudley returned home to chaos.

His mother was screaming, his father was shouting up the stairs threatening to call the police, Harry was yelling something incoherent (which Dudley recognised as a nightmare), and his suitcase was half blocking the door. Seeing as Harry's nightmares were so common they in no way warranted this reaction and no normal thief would immediately return a suitcase Dudley knew one thing immediately:

The twins were here.

Dudley had a sneaking suspicion it wouldn't be long until he started to permanently associate redheads with chaos.

Seeing that they were already occupied with Harry- and lord knows that guys nightmares went on forever- Dudley decided to starts his plan in a different location: his parents.

Of course the second his mum saw him Dudley was pulled into a tight hug and bathed in kisses and apologies. As she checked him over for harm his dad turned and suddenly it all went quiet besides his mother's occasional sniffing and Dudley's gentil reassurances that he was fine.

After finally calming her down a bit, he was able to manoeuvre her onto the sofa with his dad following (more out of habit than anything else Dudley thought).

"Are you alright son?" Vernon asked

"I'm fine dad: I two of those boys Harry hangs about with and decided to avoid them, but dropped my bag in the process "for some reason he felt the need to assure his parents the bag wasn't stolen.

"Did they harm you? Do you feel any different from before? Please tell me they didn't give you another tail!" His mother started to which Dudley quickly assured her

"They didn't do anything, honest- they didn't even have time!"

At this point his father started to pace: always a bad sign. He was muttering about the police, the army, MI6 and all sorts of nonsense that basically indicated displeasure.

"I think we should leave them alone" Dudley stated simply "we don't know how long they plan to be here but as long as we stay out of the way I doubt they care enough about us to do anything good or bad to us"

"Dudders" his mother exclaimed "have you forgotten about what they did to your tongue?"

"No, but as long as we don't eat anything unknown like floor toffees we should be fine" he reasoned

"But Dudley" his dad started, only to have Dudley interrupt

"What can we do dad? Call the police? And say what: theres a bunch of wizards in my house? No one would believe any of us! Maybe if we show them Harry's being treated well they won't have a reason to hate us, we should show them we can be the better people!"

"We ARE the better people!" Vernon said in a tone that could only be described as a strangled bellow, as if he wanted to scream it at the top of his lungs only to find himself so full of anger it flooded his lungs preventing any air from entering him. His face turning purple helped fuel that illusion.

"Then SHOW it, lead by example!" Dudley reasoned (quoting some poster he'd seen at school)

"But Dudders: they've moved in, they want to be out neighbours"

"Then let them, they'll either have to act normal or the rest of the neighbourhood will drive them out anyway. If we retaliate on them or Harry it will only prove there is a link between us and them and fuel the gossip: while they are here they are fresh meat- no one will try and look into what happens around here or Harry unless we give them a reason to cause a fuss. Leave them and Harry alone and they'll have no choice but to comply or leave" Dudley was praying this would work: he had always been able to manipulate his parents, but this was big. It wasn't just wanting a second pudding, it was asking they be tolerant of the very people they had raised him to loath!

His mum seemed to be buying it, but only because she was so focused on smoothing his hair she seemed to have had all her terror and anger be temporarily drained and replaced by an odd naturalness that came with being between delighted at the prospect of gossip from new neighbours and horrified at the prospect of who said neighbours were.

His dad was still pacing, seemingly contemplating what Dudley had said, and Dudley knew that now was a time for quiet… it all rode on this.

…

There were a few crack like whips at different intervals which had Dudley wondering what was happening upstairs, and he heard someone go into the bathroom at one point.

Eventually, Vernon looked up at his wife and son, apparently having come to a decision.