Harry lay on his bed, listening to Dudley sobbing next door. He knew that Uncle Vernon's decision shocked Dudley and his mom to the back of their teeth. Dudley had kicked a terrible temper throughout the evening. He thrashed his room, hit his father with his old Smeltings stick, then broke it into two when Uncle Vernon had ignored him. He kept bawling to his mother. "I don't want to go to that freak place……… I don't want to leave my friends…… I'm going to hate it there……" but nothing could be done. Uncle Vernon had called Smeltings and unregistered Dudley.
Harry grinned. He knew he should feel sorry for
Dudley- and irritated. But Uncle Vernon had always called him as abnormal as he
can be. Now he has to accept that the 'abnormality' runs in his family too."
Harry then got up and went outside. He was about
to reach the stairs when he heard Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia's voices
squabbling in their bedroom.
"How could you agree to let Dudley go to that
school? How could you?"
"So you want to let Dudley stay in Smeltings and
do all those magic stuff? Do you want to humiliate yourself?"
"I'm sure if we keep him a little longer, we'd be
able to stamp it out of him…….."
"We thought the same of that nephew of yours. But
look at him now!"
"But Vernon-"
"I told you millions of times I'm not having one
in the house, Petunia! You know how Dudley is when he's in his temper. Remember
Mr. Mason's visit? What if the same thing happens later on? It's the best we
send Dudley to where he can't humiliate himself- or us! Even if he had to go to
that good-for-nothing school!"
The rest of it was quiet, but Harry return to his
bedroom with gritted teeth. So they thought Hogwarts is a good-for-nothing
school, eh? He'll show them……
* *
About two weeks before term starts, Harry told the Dursleys that he'd be
going to buy his school things with his friends Ron and Hermione. Uncle Vernon
huffily agreed, against Aunt Petunia's judgement. Dudley refused to go, but
then obeyed when he saw his father giving him the look he had never seen- or
been given- by him.
They drove
to London where Harry pointed out the Leaky Cauldron (he remembered it ever
since Hagrid brought him in first year) and entered. The Dursleys were clearly
shocked to see how warmly Harry was greeted by the people in there- though they
don't show it much. Harry was about to tap the third brick with his wand when
he heard a familiar booming voice.
"Harry!"
It was, of course, Rubeus Hagrid, Hogwarts
gamekeeper. He was waving madly at Harry and he waved back. Dudley whimpered
and cowered behind his mother.
"Hi Hagrid", Harry cried happily.
"How're yeh? And what're they doin' here?" Hagrid
muttered, jerking his head towards the Dursleys.
Harry told them, and Hagrid chuckled. "Seriously? Yer cousin? A wizard?"
Harry bit his lip, trying not to laugh. "Aw c'mon Hagrid. It's not good to laugh at a new wizard." Uncle Vernon looked at Hagrid with loathing eyes.
"Anyway, Hagrid. I gotta go. I have to meet Ron
and Hermione and buy my books."
'Yeah. See yeh at Hogwarts then", he gave Dudley a
little grin. "And yeh too, Duddy."
Aunt Petunia bit her lips.
Harry then tapped the brick with his wand and it
swung open, revealing the wizarding world of shops. Harry turned and saw the
Dursleys staring with their mouths hanging open like a bunch of dead fish.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley."