"Severus... what did you do..." Albus shook his head. Not really asking, the boy arriving at Hogwarts was proof enough.
"I did what you always refuse." Severus sneered, "I saved abuse victims from their abusers."
"..." Albus stared at him a moment. He understood, Severus tended to prefer dealing with "obstacles" by removing them. That was what his work as a spy had taught him... but the old sage had hoped he had learned not to be so careless in taking a life... "How?" although Albus ment this more as a "How could you?" Severus seemed to interpret this as asking for the specifics.
"No laws were broken," Severus assured, "No direct spell casting was used against any of the muggles. So the Bloodwards didn't protect against it. Just good old fashion Slytherin cunning. Malicious manipulation of events, to result in all parties being at the exact spot at the exact time."
Albus groaned, "I realize you needed to find a way to save Harry, without revealing his bloodline... but this..."
"If it makes you feel any better, the drunk driver involved was also a pedophile."
Albus shot up in his chair.
Severus smiled, "As I said, no one of consequence was lost."
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Dudley still had a bit of a headache from drinking that aweful "Freak Blesser", as he was calling it. The man that came for him didn't even explain what it was... but it was bright and colorful, so Dudley assumed it was a soda... he really wish he had asked what it was now...
Apparently the thing was a "Potion" to give him "Magic".
The darkly dressed man had given him the dose, while they were leaving the school... he claimed to be from social services, and was supposed to be bringing Dudley to his aunt Marge...
Mister and Misses Dursley, Dudley's parents... had been on their way to visit him at boarding school... for family day... but they got hit by some tourist that was driving on the wrong side of the road... bloody Americans...
Now Dudley was an Orphan... like his Cousin... he couldn't help but wonder if he would have to start living in a cupboard to...
The man that picked him up turned out to be one of Potter's professors, from that freak school. He had gotten all the paperwork and permits to give Dudley, a "Muggle", the freak blesser. That way Dudley could be accepted into Hogwarts... It would seem wizards had a bunch of laws about "muggles", especially children.
Mom's Sister was APPARENTLY the head of the family, as the first freak to emerge in several generations. The Freak named a magical guardian over her own child. Which, by freak law, meant every child of Evan's blood was this man's responsibility... until such a time as Harry came of age, and then he would be tasked with looking after the magicals of the Evan's line. The freakiest of all freaks, was the head of the family... he was even that BEFORE mom died.
All this was a bit much to swallow. It was all happening so fast... Harry Potter... the freak Dudley personally spent his entire childhood TORTURING... was now his head of family... now had legal rights over Dudley... The young Dursley did not see much of a future for himself in this world...
Until Harry came of age though, The greasy bat of a man was in charge of them both... The man had explained that Dudley was basically going to be put in classes with other "special" children that couldn't do proper magic...
Dudley had to be brought into their world... now that his parents were dead... the only other option was erasing the boy's memories of all things magic... If Dudley had been given a choice, he would have prefered forgetting. Freaks were no good lay-abouts, so said his father... and now Dudley was the equivalent of a handicapped freak... no, he really would have prefered if he hadn't been "accepted" into their world.
But the man hadn't asked him, he just filled out the paperwork, before even meeting Dudley... and then brought him to "Hogwarts"... his new home and school... leaving behind all Dudley's friends... his family (what he had left)... everything he ever knew.
"It's going to be alright, child." Said the freak, "You're safe now." the man clearly believed himself to be Dudley's rescuer... but what, exactly, did he think he was being rescued from?
Dudley was currently sitting with the teachers at his table, beside the man that stole him. Everyone was dressed like they were out of a fantasy movie. While such films were forbidden at his house, Dudley had been able to keep up to date with all the franchises... at his friends' houses. The other kids just assumed the Dursleys were religious, and let their friend "Live dangerously".
The Headmaster clinked his goblet, somehow getting the attention of the entire hall (filled with nearly a thousand kids). "As some of you may have noticed, we have a new student today. While he is going to be sorted today, he won't be starting classes until next week. Until then he will be staying with his New guardian, Professor Snape, in his Quarters." There was a collective gasp from all the tables, except the kids wearing green. None of them seemed to think Snape was qualified to raise a child.
The headmaster, looking the perfect image of a Merlin rip-off, turned to Dudley. "Mister Dursley," at least they hadn't tried to steal his name, "If you please."
Dudley, being a rather plump child, waddled around the long teacher's table and stood before the great hall... where a hat was sitting on a stool... which started to sing... the hat, not the chair.
"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
Magic... might be pretty awesome after all... Though Dudley was still waiting for the hat to explode or burn him or something...
Long before Dudley started fighting back, Harry had been using his freak powers against him. Dudley hadn't known how, but his parents insisted the boils and burns were from Harry...
That first year when Harry moved in with them, had been truly hell for Dudley. He still remembered a good deal of it, it was just so traumatizing. Harry was really upset about what happened to his family, he kept making things blow up around the house... until one day Dudley got tired of it and fought back. Yeah, what happened to Harry's parents was aweful, but he shouldn't have been using his freak powers to take it out on his family...
Once Harry knew Dudley wouldn't tolerate the violent tantrums, they stopped... but Dudley didn't... He made sure Harry would never hurt him again.
Dudley slowly smiled, now he had powers to... that freak really couldn't hurt him anymore. Dudley could finally protect his friends from Harry. He wouldn't have to rely on Numbers, nor warning kids away from his violent cousin. He could truly-
Dudley sat on the stool and the hat placed on his head... next thing he knew... a voice spoke...
"Oh an interesting mind... although you shamefully don't use it much," the hat commented but it sounded like the voice was echoing inside his head, and not his ears. "Definitely not a Ravenclaw. Very cunning, in your own way. You appear quite good at manipulating people, and are used to getting what you want... Slytherin maybe... definitely an option, they could help you cultivate your leadership abilities... though you would have difficulty with your muggle background in that particular house... Let's see what else we have. Not too brave... but you want to be. Sometimes wanting it is all you need to find the courage inside yourself. Very loyal... although not usually to people who deserve it. A kind sensitive soul but it was never nurtured. I think it's time it was.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat suddenly called out loud.
###
A/N:
Harry had a large number of magical accidents after coming to live with the Dursleys. In this fic , Dudley legitimately thought he was protecting the rest of the school from Harry. All causes of "Harry Hunting" were triggered by something unexpected happening, and Dudley assuming it was Harry. He'll come to realize he was just being a bully, but for now he thinks he was in the right.