Hogwarts Again - A New Generation

Chapter 3 - Harry Again

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING.

Author's note: Hi! Hope you liked the last two chapters. Just to be clear, it is a year since Dudley and Violet have been dating, and Dudley is twenty now. He will turn twenty one in a few weeks.

"Dad talked to Harry Potter yesterday at work," said Violet. "And he agreed to see you next Sunday, Seventh of July, as he doesn't have Training that day."

"Thanks, Violet," said Dudley.

"No problem," said she. Next Sunday dawned bright.

"A good omen," Violet said. "And, it's the Seventh. Seven is the most magical number. You're lucky. I have a feeling everything will go smoothly today."

"Where did you say he is seeing me?" asked Dudley.

"I didn't say. You must go to the Lee's Tea, where we met on our first date, remember?"

"Right."

Harry was already there, talking to the owner, a bloke called Lee Jordan, when Dudley entered the shop. He stopped abruptly when he saw Dudley. Dudley attempted to smile warmly, as though there had not been sixteen years of rivalry between them. He was very surprised when Harry grinned back.

"Hey, Big D," he said. He gestured to Jordan. "This is Lee Jordan, an old friend of mine. 'One of my lot', as you call them."

Jordan held out his hand, grinning mischeviously, and Dudley shook it. He and Harry sat down at a table. The shop was unusually empty. Whenever Dudley had passed it before, there were always crowds of people, laughing at Jordan's jokes. He wondered if Jordan had did some magic to give Harry and him some privacy.

"So, why did you want to see me," asked Harry.

"Well, I actually wanted to – to apologize," said Dudley. "For everything you had to go through at Privet Drive. I know what you did in your – in the Wizarding World now. My neighbor, Violet Wilson, told me all about it. She's a witch, you know. Well, I am ashamed of what I did, and I wanted to apologize. So, I asked her if there was any way I could see you, and she said she'd try. So... I'm sorry."

Dudley said all this in a rush, surprised at how easy it was once he had started. Harry sat silently while he spoke, and then smiled again.

"Yes, Mr. Wilson told me you were dating his daughter," he said. "I was surprised. I thought you hated Magic?"

"Well, I did, once," said Dudley. "Not since you saved me, though – my soul, I mean. Without Magic, I don't know what might've happened to me."

"Well, Dudley, your apology is accepted," said Harry. "You probably wouldn't have hated Magic had it not been for your parents. I suppose we're friends now?"

"Yeah, I suppose so."

They chatted amicably, and a warmth took place. Dudley told all about how he had learned about Magic, and Harry told him that Violet was a very bright Witch, and that she had been one of the few underage students to stay and fight during the Battle of Hogwarts.

"Are you going to marry Violet," asked Harry, out of the blue.

"I – I didn't – I haven't really thought about it," said Dudley. "But, well, I suppose I am, though. After a year or two, perhaps. I don't know what Mum and Dad would say, though. They don't know who the Wilsons really are."

"Well, if they don't like your choice, what'll you do," asked Harry. "Will you still marry her?"

"I – I suppose so," said Dudley. "Why?"

"Well, if you are, I have to tell Violet," said Harry. "She requested me to ask you," he added, grinning. Dudley gasped.

"She could just have asked me!" he exclaimed.

"She's too shy to do that, Dudley," said Harry solemnly. "Most girls are."

"Are you dating anyone, then," asked Dudley. "You sound as if you're speaking from experience."

"Well, I do have experience. I'm dating Ginny Weasley. She's marvelous. Has red hair, brown eyes, lots of freckles, and a fiery temper. She's my best friend's sister."

"What," said Dudley. "You're dating your best friend's sister?"

"Well, my best friend is dating my other best friend," said Harry. "So, I figured he wouldn't say anything to me dating his sister. He didn't."

"You can't possibly be talking about… who-was-that," said Dudley. "Ron, I think."

"Well, yes," said Harry. "How'd you know his name?"

"He called once, remember," said Dudley. "He yelled his head off and Dad yelled back. Wow, it was funny."

"Yeah, I remember," said Harry. "I am surprised you do, though."

"Well, you have a friend, Harry," said Dudley. "Friends, I should say. I always envied you that. I never had any real friends. My friends, they were just… well, they weren't really friends, if you know what I mean."

"Yeah, I do," said Harry. "Well, I am glad you appreciate real friendship, Dudley. Maybe you'll find another friend sometime, too, apart from me."

And, so, they talked about all sorts of things. After an hour or so, Harry got up to leave.

"I've got to go back. Hogwarts needs rebuilding and we are all doing all we can. And then there's still other things to do. Like repairing all the damage that Voldemort and his Death Eaters did. Goodbye, then, Big D. See you later. Bye, Lee. See you back at Hogwarts tomorrow."

"Bye, Harry. Visit more often. Thrice a month isn't enough. It's getting boring without – without Fred and George. Give my greetings to Peeves."

"Right," said Harry. "See you later." And he disappeared with a faint pop.

Dudley went home to his room and pondered over the conversation. He had found it pleasant, even delightful. It did make a change from his father's constant complaining, anyway. Then, Harry's questions came to the fore his mind. He posed himself with the same questions again.

Are you going to marry Violet? What if your parents don't agree? What will you do then?

Well, he would marry Violet, even if his parents didn't agree. But what would he tell them? That still remained a question.

"Well, maybe the answer will come to me sometime," thought Dudley, before slipping into a dreamless sleep.