Chapter 6 – DECISIONS

They could all hear the raised voice of Uncle Vernon shouting angrily and entering the office as Professor McGonagall opened the door could see Uncle Vernon flushed face and Aunt Petunia livid expression.

'He will not be going here, I tell you!'

Harry panicked on hearing this and shouted at his Uncle, 'I am going here! You can't stop me!'

'What are you talking about?' Uncle Vernon replied confused by Harry's outburst.

'Harry' Hermione said, 'They're not talking about you. They're talking about Dudley.'

"Dudley?' 'Me?' Harry and Dudley exclaimed simultaneously.

'Don't you see Harry. Dudley flew on that broom today' Hermione said as if that explained everything.

Harry, Ron and Dudley just looked puzzled.

'Oh don't you see.' Hermione went on, 'A muggle can't fly on a broom. Dudley is not a muggle, he's a wizard!'

'No!' said Ron.

'No!' said Harry.

'No!' said Dudley.

'NO! shouted Uncle Vernon 'He's not, he can't be!' Aunt Petunia just burst into tears.

Dumbledor smiled gently at Hermione and said 'Well done Miss Grainger. Professor Hooch told us about it a few minutes ago. I have been trying to explain it to Dudley's parents. Its not uncommon for a late developer to show up and it would seem there is more to young Dudley Dursley than we all thought.'

'Me, a wizard? Like Harry?' Dudley was thunderstruck.

'He will not be coming, you hear me. He's going back to Smeltings. He's normal I tell you. Normal!' Uncle Vernon took up his argument with the headmaster again.

Dudley burst out with 'Dad, I can't go back to Smeltings and you know no other school in the area wants me either after what I did. Why can't I go here. It's really great.'

This threw Uncle Vernon into utter shock and Aunt Petunia in sobbing hysterics.

Sighing Dumbledor tried to calm things down, 'Please take some time to think over my offer during the summer. Hogwarts offers an excellent accelerated coarse in magic for older students like Dudley. I will send the letter offering Dudley a place here with Harry's letter at the end of the summer holidays. You can make the final decision then. Perhaps that's best. I am sure Harry will be able to tell you everything you need to know about Hogwarts. Now shall we go down to the Great Hall as the end of term feast is tonight and I need to make some arrangements.'

And so they all departed for the end of year feast. Dumbledor, Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, Dudley, Harry, Ron, Hermione. One thing Harry knew for certain, this summer at the Dursleys was not going to be pleasant for anyone, especially him.