Hogwarts Again - A New Generation

Chapter 2 – Surprise!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING

Dudley sat on his bed in his room. He was stunned. Violet and her parents had just told him a secret. It had been seven months since their first date. Violet had invited him to tea the previous day and he had accepted. She hadn't been able to see him for a while now because she had some important exams to take.

At tea, when eating the pancakes Mrs. Wilson had made, Dudley had noticed something peculiar. A photograph of Violet's father, she had pointed out various relatives to him, had scratched his nose and then returned to his original position.

Dudley had stared at it for a minute, and when it did nothing more, decided he must have imagined it. If he had paid the slightest attention to his cousin, Harry's family photos, he would've thought that Violet's father's picture was a Wizard photograph, the person painted could move within and in and out of their frames. But he had not cared at all for Harry or anything to do with him until Harry had saved Dudley from two Dementors.

After tea, when he had been about to leave, Mr. Wilson, who was at home that day, had called him back. He had said that he wanted to talk about something serious. Dudley couldn't think what that could be.

"We know for a fact that Harry Potter lived with you until two years ago," Violet had said. Dudley started. He couldn't think how she knew that. She hadn't even moved in here when Harry had left Privet Drive. He hoped she hadn't heard how they had treated him.

"Well, you see Dudley, I am a wizard," Mr. Wilson had said. "My wife is a Muggle, but Violet has magical qualities. She has been going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She's currently in her seventh and last year there. We happen to know that you know that Harry Potter is a great wizard. So, we thought it safe to tell you."

"I – I don't understand," Dudley had said.

And then, they had told him all the basic things about being a witch or a wizard. They told him that there were Pure-bloods, Half-Bloods, Muggle-Borns and Muggles and had told him what all that meant. Mr. Wilson was a Pure-Blood who had married a Muggle, so their child, Violet, was a Half-Blood. They had told him that there were four Houses at Hogwarts, the school for Magic. Gryffindor – the House of the Brave, Ravenclaw – the House of the Clever, Hufflepuff – the House of the Friendly, and Slytherin – the House of the Cunning. Violet, it seemed, was in Hufflepuff. Her father had been in Ravenclaw.

Now, as he lay in his bed, he thought about the man in the picture he had thought had scratched his nose. He realised that he had not imagined it. The shock that his girlfriend was a witch was difficult to deal with. Hadn't he hated wizards and witches ever since he had learnt that his cousin was one?

"But," said a truthful voice in his head. "But, he did save your life once. Magic can used for good, too, you know." He had felt extremely grateful towards Harry since then. Dudley had tried to show his gratitude, but Harry had gone back to the Wizarding World immediately. When he had returned in the summer, he had not come out of the room even for meals. He had only known the reason when someone had come to visit and told them that Harry's Godfather had died. Next summer, he tried to make it up to him by making some tea and placing it at his door, hoping he would understand. Then, he had left, never to return again.

"And then", he thought, coming back to the present. "There is the fact that, even though Violet's a Witch, I still love her." He realised he didn't care whether she was a witch or a vampire or a werewolf. He loved her all the same. It didn't matter what she was, it only mattered who she was.

Next day, when he told Violet how he felt, her eyes moistened and she hugged him and then kissed him. She said that she would tell her parents, and she had asked him not to tell his parents, as they did not like Magic. He had agreed wholeheartedly.

"Thanks," she said. "And now, I really must go and study for my N.E.W.T.s,"

"What are N.E.W.T.s?" asked Dudley.

"Oh, they are the examinations held in the end of the last year at Hogwarts," said Violet. "They stand for Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests. And O.W.L.s are held at the end of your fifth year. Ordinary Wizarding Levels" she explained. "I couldn't take my N.E.W.T.s last year as I was supposed to, because of the Battle of Hogwarts. The exams were postponed to the next year. I'll tell you about it later."

"Alright then, go and study," said Dudley. "See you later!"

And their relationship had gone quite well, Violet explaining more and more things about the Wizarding World to Dudley whenever they had time to be together. He enjoyed it all immensely. Of course, he enjoyed anything that involved Violet.

Then, at the start of July, she informed him that her N.E.W.T.s were over, and that holidays had begun. After a few weeks, she told him happily that she had gotten all the N.E.W.T.s that she wanted, and that she had achieved top grades in Astronomy.

They kept up their relationship, though they fought over small things often. Over the next few weeks, she told him stories of Harry Potter and all that had happened and all that he had done. Dudley was fascinated and ashamed of himself. Harry had been so noble and brave, and his father had locked him up in a cupboard. He couldn't help but admire his cousin. He wanted to make amends.

"Next week," he thought. "I will go and apologize to him and maybe we can even become friends."

He thought it over. There was no hope that he would be able to find Harry in the Wizarding World. He thought back. Harry's friend had once called him. Ron, he had said his name was. He was sure Harry must be staying with this Ron. He decided to ask Violet for help. After all, she might know some magical way of contacting his cousin.

"You want to see Harry Potter," she said. "It can be arranged. My father works at the Ministry of Magic. And your cousin goes there for his Auror Training. My father can tell Harry Potter that you want to speak with him."

And so, it was arranged. He only had waiting to do now.