Dudley entered the Great Hall, noting how crowded it seemed. He drew a few stares when Draco patted him on the back and wished him luck. Then he was led to the Gryffindor table.
"Feeling nervous?" Hermione asked.
"Paranoid would be a better word," Dudley replied, "Imagine yourself sitting at the Slytherin table uninvited."
"You could look more cheerful," Ron suggested. "You look like you walked into a room filled with ghosts."
"A curious phrase," Dudley said giving the Gryffindor a wry smile. "When yet a boy I sought for ghosts, and sped through many a listening chamber, cave and ruin, and starlight wood, with fearful steps pursuing hopes of high talk with the departed dead. Now I bear the fruit of my labor."
"Do you quote muggles often?" Hermione asked.
"You've read Shelley? I shouldn't be surprised. With all the friends you have, there is plenty of time."
"I was being polite," Hermione said crossly.
"Why bother?"
"I was asking myself the same question."
The two glared at each other, while Ron stood by unsure of whether to stop any possible trouble or to join in.
"What's wrong, Harry?" Neville Longbottom asked from behind.
Dudley turned around, and gave a curious display of emotions. His face paled in surprise. He then started to smile, only to force himself to look at Neville with a blank stare.
"I'm sorry, Longbottom. I didn't mean to block the way."
Neville gave him a strange look and went past him to sit down.
"What's wrong, Malfoy?" Hermione said snidely, "did you run out of insults? You passed up a chance to insult Neville."
"Miss Granger," Dudley said with forced politeness, "Never presume that you know me. In my world, we only speak of Neville Longbottom with respect. If you do not treat him the same in this world, then you are all fools."
"Neville?" Ron asked with a laugh, then found himself apologizing when Dudley stared him down.
"Hermione?" Ginny asked as she walked up, "I couldn't help overhearing, since the three of you are almost shouting, but . . . where are Harry's glasses and why did you call him Malfoy?"
Dudley smirked at the question. "I assume Harry's glasses are with him, and Granger called me Malfoy because that is my name. Permit me to introduce myself. I am Dudley Malfoy, fourth form, Slytherin House. I believe you already know my brother, Draco." He took Ginny's hand and kissed it in a flamboyant manner. "It is a pleasure to meet you my dear. And you are?"
"Uh, Ginny. Ginny Weasley. You don't know me?"
"In my world, Weasel, I mean, Ron Weasley does not have a sister. I am sure it is our loss."
"Would you like to sit down?" Ginny offered, unsure of what else to do. As the group sat down, Ginny took a couple of deep breaths and looked over at Harry who was not Harry.
"You said I wasn't in your world?" she asked.
"I'm sure Dumbledore will announce it," Dudley said conversationally. "I discovered a magical device which permits me to exchange places with . . . myself. I come from a different version of this world, you might say. Apparently, my counterpart in this world is this Harry Potter, and from what I've heard he is a complete loser."
"That's not true," Ginny protested, along with several other Gryffindors.
"Oh. Is Harry your boyfriend?"
"Well. No," Ginny admitted.
"Then I am right. He is a loser," Dudley said with a grin, and laughed as Ginny began to blush.
"You're teasing me," Ginny protested.
"I'm sorry," Dudley apologized without dropping his smile. "I know almost everyone here under different circumstances, except you. I want to talk to you because I'm afraid to talk to anyone else."
"Are we that different."
"Your brother keeps trying to be nice to me. That is different."
"But you're his best friend."
"No, Harry is his best friend. I am Draco's brother. Do you see my problem?"
Ginny laughed in delight as she understood what Dudley was telling her. "You do have a problem." She laughed again, and said, "poor Harry. He has to sit with the Slytherins."
"Draco will help him adjust," Dudley assured her, "and Father is at the school as well, along with Mother and Uncle Severus."
"You must be joking," Ginny laughed, then saw the bemused smile that the Slytherin boy gave her. "It is true? All of it?"
"Yes."
"Tell me what I can do to help?" Ginny said sincerely.
"You've already done it," Dudley told her. "I need a friend in this world, someone who can show me where I stand."
"That's easy. Here, everyone in Gryffindor is your friend. You can count on us to help you. And unless I am wrong, Dudley, you have friends in Slytherin and the other houses as well."
"You make it sound so easy."
"Knowing is always easy. Doing is the hard part. Good luck."
"Thank you, I think."
*
After eating, a small crowd of Gryffindors with one lone Slytherin headed toward the common room. Hermione tried to break the silence by commenting on the headmaster's announcement.
"I thought Dumbledore did an excellent job of explaining the situation."
"Did you, Miss Granger? I liked the part where I had to stand up and have everyone stare at me."
"Now they know what you look like," Ron laughed.
"I should have been sitting next to Draco when he pointed me out. Now everyone has the wrong idea about me."
"Wait a minute," Ron protested, "Everyone saw you holding hands with my sister. Don't you think that might have given them the 'wrong' idea."
"Ginny isn't in my world. I already told you that."
"Nobody else knew that. Maybe you should go back and explain."
"I'll explain tomorrow," Dudley fumed, "after everyone who didn't have a chance gets to ask me what my world is like."
"Tell them it's just like this world, but the food is better," Hermione said suddenly. It didn't provoke a laugh, but it did get Dudley to smile.
*
When they arrived at the Gryffindor common room, Dudley quickly asked to be shown his bed. All of the attention was too much for him. Now, instead of hundreds of curious people, he had only four to deal with.
"If I can help you with anything, let me know," Ron offered.
"Thank you," Dudley said as he went to the foot of his bed. "I can't open my trunk. I don't know my password."
"That's easy enough. It's the same as mine." He called out "Malfoy stinks," watching Dudley cringe.
"That will have to change," Dudley said.
"What's Slytherin like?" Dean Thomas asked.
"Here? I don't know," Dudley said tonelessly.
"What he means is . . ." Ron began to explain.
"I know what he means," Dudley snapped.
"You definitely are a Malfoy, you stinking git," Ron snarled angrily, "Dean was trying to be polite, but he's not Slytherin. That's the problem. And you won't even try to deal with it. We're not good enough for you Mister High and Mighty."
"HOW DARE YOU," Dudley yelled back, "You don't know me, shouting about high and mighty. Did you ever look at my robes? Did you? They're in worse condition than yours. Do you know why? Because in my world, we have NOTHING. The Weasleys are richer than we are. They at least have a place to live."
"I didn't know," Ron said, apologetically.
"You wouldn't," Dudley conceded. "But I have a lot to get used to. Would you like an example? Do you see Finnigan? In my world, he's in the infirmary. Shot by a sniper. He may never recover. Thomas never came back after summer holiday. And Longbottom . . ." Dudley faltered, and tears filled his eyes. "I'm sorry, Neville. I tried."
Quiet filled the room, as Dudley's outburst subsided. He quietly dressed for bed, ignoring the hour, and closed the curtains around him.
*
Dudley woke up to an empty room, except for the Weasel, sitting on bed across from him.
"I didn't think you would want to wake up alone."
"Thank you," Dudley said, then added with difficulty, "Ron."
As he dressed, Dudley looked up and said, "Weasley, I should apologize."
"I understand," Ron said, "you have a lot to get used to."
"Harry Potter must be lucky to have a friend like you."
"I'm lucky to have a friend like him."
Dudley made a decision, and held out his hand. "I'd like to call a truce."
"A truce?" Ron asked with a surprised laugh. "Is that how you make friends."
"We don't make friends from other houses," Dudley explained. "We have truce. We agree to act as though there is nothing between us."
"Did you have truce with Neville?"
Dudley started at that remark. "Yes," he said sadly.
"I'm sorry," Ron said.
"Don't be," Dudley answered with surprising force. "Never be sorry about Neville." He held his hand out again, and asked, " What do you say, Weasley? Will you call truce?"
"I'd like to try for friend," Ron offered.
"Do you really want to be friends with a Slytherin?" Dudley asked with a grin.
"Truce, it is," Ron said with a laugh, and shook his hand.
A few minutes later, Dudley and Ron walked out the door and down the stairs to the common room where Granger was waiting for them.
"Good Morning Hermione," he called, trying to be polite.
"You're looking better this morning," she said, "More relaxed."
"I feel better," he admitted, "at least I know where I stand. Last night was hard on me."
*
When Dudley entered the Great Hall, it went quiet and everyone stared at him. The night before had intensified everyone's curiosity. Then the whispering started.
"He looks just like Harry."
"Is he really evil?"
"Where's he going to sit?"
This last remark came from the Weasley twins who were standing nearby. He turned to them and instinctively sneered. "That depends on what is at stake."
Laughing at his reaction, Fred answered, "if I've guessed correctly, George admits that I'm better than he is, and if George guesses correctly, I admit that he guessed correctly."
Everyone laughed except Dudley, who fumed at the supposed insult. As the laughter died down, he said, loudly, "It doesn't matter. When Weasleys compete against Malfoys, Slytherins always celebrates."
He then walked over to a cheering Slytherin table, and when Draco stood to offer him a chair, Dudley deliberately hugged him, calling him brother, and sat down to eat. He made his point to everyone. He was NOT Harry Potter.
"Do you have a girlfriend," Pansy Parkinson asked, when she had a chance.
"Your perfume smells wonderful," Dudley said with a wry smile, "I've always liked Essence of Violet."
"It was nice of you to notice," Pansy said, giving him a wide smile.
Then Crabbe asked him a question. "Are we friends?"
"Vincent, we will always be friends," he answered sincerely.
Gregory Goyle asked the same question, and Dudley paused.
"You're not there," he answered softly
Between all of the questions, Dudley did manage to eat something. He wasn't sure if he should have left Granger and Weasley the way he did, but he needn't have worried. Unable to get close enough to him, dozens of students were gathered around the Gryffindors, asking them what questions they could.
As they stood up to go to classes, Hermione walked up.
"Dudley, I should remind you. Dumbledore has decided that you should take your classes with Gryffindor."
Dudley groaned at the thought, but Draco told him not to worry. "We share the first class, Care of Magical Creatures. Hagrid is completely useless, of course."
Dudley said nothing until they were walking down the hill to class. Once there were no other students close enough to hear, he asked Draco, "What did you mean about Hagrid being useless? After we found out about the dragon, we became friends."
Draco's eyebrows shot up. "There was a dragon!"
"Dudley," Hermione said, "I don't know what happened on your world, but here, when Draco found out he tried to turn us in and get us expelled."
Dudley fumed at Draco, "You little snitch. Didn't you think? You should have gotten them to let you in on it. Draco," he said, almost shouting, "It was a Dragon!"
Draco was completely taken aback. Dudley was right. He could have gotten his hands on a real dragon. "I'm sorry," he said with honest regret, "I didn't think of that. But then, you weren't here."
Hermione didn't laugh at Draco's embarrassment or even think to rub it in. Instead she took Dudley's hand, forcing him to look at her, saying, "just then, you sounded exactly like Harry."
Dudley pulled his hand free, and kept walking.
Breakfast had consisted of everyone trying to ask Dudley questions. The same was true of Care of Magical Creatures, but Hagrid was using his position as teacher to ask his questions first. It was fine for a while. The most common question everyone asked was what were they like in the other world. Dudley made light of it by saying all the students from Gryffindor House were worthless, but, of course, he was speaking as a member of Slytherin House. He added to the general laughter by pointing out that Harry was probably saying the opposite right now. As soon as the class ended, he quickly turned and began walking away.
"I think Hagrid wants to talk to you," said Ron catching up to him, but Dudley kept walking.
"Are you getting tired of answering questions?" Hermione asked, while she and Ron led him to the next class.
"Yes and no," Dudley said sadly, "it is hard for me, trying to be nice to people I would normally not even talk to, but I am getting used to it. The hardest part is seeing people I know, who are not in my world."
"What do you mean," asked Hermione, "like they were dead or something?"
Dudley's look told Hermione she was right. Dudley bit back his initial words and tried to talk calmly. "Yes, like they were dead, like they were missing, like they weren't there."
"Like Hagrid?" Hermione asked fearfully, and Dudley nodded.
*
Transfiguration was a relief. Professor McGonagall demanded complete attention, ignoring Dudley's special status, except to determine that his lessons were on par with what she was teaching. Occasionally, Dudley would find himself looking around at the others in the class, but always avoided eye contact.
*
At Dumbledore's insistence, Dudley was sitting at the Gryffindor table for the midday meal, which was an imitation of breakfast, but not as bad. Most of the students were sharing gossip about what they had heard earlier, and most questions were about how Dudley was doing. He answered cheerfully enough, but his smile seemed forced. There was some amusement when he first sat down. He had carefully checked his chair before sitting, and was looking under the table when Ron asked, "What are you looking for?"
"Anything," he answered, "Your brothers are here."
"So you do know Fred and George," laughed Seamus Finnigan.
After eating as quickly as he could, Dudley excused himself to Ron and Hermione saying that Dumbledore had asked to see him.
*
"Have things been interesting for you?" Dumbledore asked.
"Interesting is a very appropriate word, Headmaster."
Dumbledore sighed. "I am going to impose upon you, Dudley, there is someone I want you to meet." Bringing Dudley over to the fireplace, he threw some powder into the flames, and called out, "Sirius, are you there?"
A familiar face appeared in the flames, calling out, "Dumbledore, I received your message." The face then turned to Dudley. "Is this the boy? The resemblance is remarkable."
"Allow me to make introductions," the headmaster said, "Sirius, this is Dudley Malfoy. Dudley this is Sirius Black, Harry's godfather."
"It's nice to meet you, Dudley."
"My pleasure, Minister."
"Minister?" Sirius asked, looking at Dumbledore.
"Oh, did I forget to tell you," Albus replied chuckling, "In his world you are the Minister of Magic."
At this, Dudley added, "and a very good one too, Sir. It is because of your actions that Voldemort is being held at bay."
Sirius digested this news, then asked Dudley, "tell me, do we know each other well."
"Only as teacher and student, Sir, and, since we are in different houses, I only have a passing acquaintance with your son."
"My son?," asked the figure in the fire place, now wide-eyed. Dudley realized that this Sirius Black had no family, and that was why he had been brought here.
"Yes, Sir," he replied, "James Black, he is a first form in Gryffindor House."
Sirius marveled, "James, and in Gryffindor. Is he a good student?"
Dudley was about to answer yes when Dumbledore stopped him saying, "Please, be honest," and winked at him. Taking his cue, he said with an angry tone, "the truth is, Sir, that your son is barely passing in every class. Furthermore, he spends most of his time engaged in unwarranted behavior, mostly under the influence of the Weasley twins."
Whatever Dudley had expected it wasn't this. Sirius Black began laughing like a madman, shouting, "He IS my son."
Dudley turned to Dumbledore and said, "Headmaster, I don't ever want to know why he reacted that way." At that remark, Sirius Black went into another fit of laughter.
*
When he left Dumbledore's office, Dudley found Draco waiting to escort him to Potions Class. They made some small talk, and at one point Draco asked, "Do you really like Pansy?"
"Your Pansy, yes," Dudley replied, "She has a lot of self-confidence. My Pansy always seems to have her mind somewhere else. She never pays attention to anything."
"I did see you talking to the Weasel's sister," Draco mentioned, "Do you like her?"
"Ginny Weasley caught my interest because she is not in my world. I thought her an excellent way to integrate myself with the Gryffindors on my terms."
"Do you like her, though?"
"She is a Weasley, Draco."
Draco nodded, then asked, "What about me?"
"You are my brother," Dudley answered, "I don't really understand Potter, but I think you and I are better people because we are together."
"Thank you, Dudley, for saying that."
"I mean that, Draco. We did so many things together, and here we seem to be fighting each other instead."
"I offered to be friends, but Potter refused. He had already made friends with that Weasel."
"Then you should have included the Weasel as well. He is a very agreeable person. With guidance he could still develop a proper attitude."
"You-Know-Who hates Potter. You know he wants him, and you, dead. Considering how Father feels, do you really think that is wise?"
"Voldemort is weak here, and Father has no means of gaining power in this world. But we are the next generation. We need to make our own friends, and our own plans."
"We?"
"Draco," Dudley said, stopping his brother, "You heard what Dumbledore said. If I touch the stone while I am in this world, I will stay here permanently. All we have to do is find the stone."
"You want to stay?"
"Why not?" Dudley answered, "Voldemort is still weak here, but he is strong in my world. We are fighting against him and we may not win, even with muggle help. Here, he can be easily thwarted, or even used, but he will not be a problem. And we have time to build our base, make friends, gain supporters, influence events, and best of all, we have money to finance our efforts. I can see one of us in twenty years as Minister."
"Which one?" Draco asked casually.
"I keep forgetting," Dudley said with a wry smile, "even here, you are still Draco."
"And I'm sorry, Dudley. but I won't help you find the stone."
"I understand," Dudley said, acknowledging his defeat. "There is no need to share the glory."
"But you did give me good advice about the Weasel," Draco added, and they both smiled.
*
As he reached the classroom, Dudley discovered that his celebrity status had not diminished. Almost every student tried to pair off with him. Professor Snape expressed his disgust by shouting everyone down. He then suggested that his 'nephew' choose his own partner.
"Well, Uncle, excuse me, Professor," he began, "since I am the best of the lot, It would only be fair to choose the worst, I assume it would be him, Longbottom." As everyone, including Snape, stared at him, Dudley walked to the other boy.
"Why Me?" Neville asked as Dudley joined him.
"Because I owe you one," Dudley replied. As Neville looked at him, he continued in a lecturing tone, "Did you know there are many ways to help yourself to remember things. For example, you could try using doggerel verse, that is to say, nonsense poetry. Try to memorize the potion by making up a rhyme. Like this: One part toad liver, Two parts porcupine quiver, A fat pinch of bat fur, And stir, stir, stir."
When Neville hesitated, Dudley admonished, "you should try it."
Neville stared at him, then turned toward Snape as the lesson started. Dudley deliberately stood back and let Neville do all the work. When Hermione hissed at him, he turned and smiled.
In the background Ron muttered, "He's acting like a true Slytherin, that one. Just when you think you can trust him"
The only one not confused was Draco. When Dudley looked back, he saw Draco watching him and Neville intensely. He was making no judgement, just waiting for the drama to play itself out.
When Neville was finished, he was more surprised than anyone else that the potion was perfect. Snape ordered Neville to repeat the potion recipe, which he did, in a singsong voice. Then Snape turned to Dudley. "How did you know to do that?"
"It was your idea, Uncle Severus," the boy answered . "You swore you would make him learn regardless of what it took."
Professor Snape was completely taken aback. "I am surprised. I must admit that I never thought he could learn anything." He turned to Neville and added, harshly, "If you ever ruin a potion again, I'll take a hundred points off your house, Longbottom. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Sir," Neville gulped.
"And I'm giving ten points to Slytherin, for helping a fellow student," Snape said cheerfully, "and Dudley, please choose a more appropriate partner next time.
"I will, Uncle," Dudley said, as he was directed to a spot next to Draco, where the Slytherins congratulated him.
"Excuse me, Professor," Hermione Granger said, "but Dudley Malfoy was supposed to be placed with Gryffindor."
"But he ISN'T in Gryffindor, Miss Granger, if that is what you are thinking. He is a Slytherin. And five points from Gryffindor," the Potions Professor added, "for causing an unnecessary disturbance."
*
"That stinking git," Ron muttered.
"You've said that almost fifty times since we left class," Dudley said.
"But you saw what he did," Ron said. "You helped Neville, and he gave the points to Slytherin."
"I am in Slytherin House," Dudley reminded him.
"But you're taking Harry's place."
"But I'm not Potter. Ron, the Professor gave the points to show his appreciation for what I did. I'm not in any house here, so the points don't matter to me. But your Professor Snape acknowledged that Harry Potter, at least a version of him, did something good. That should mean something. And Neville knows how to learn. If you ask me, I would think more on that then on who gets ten house points."
"Or loses five," Hermione replied. "He's right, Ron. Who cares that Dudley should be paired with a Gryffindor, and that Snape deliberately misunderstood what I said.
"Ron," Dudley interrupted, "We have truce, so I won't lie to you. Snape, in your world, is mean and spiteful compared to my uncle. If Uncle Severus were teaching the class, I would have received twice as many points, (which I did, by the way) and he would have said something positive to Neville at the least. To be honest, I don't like this Snape anymore than you do."
"Dudley, thank you for saying that," Ron said, smiling, "even if you are only saying that to be nice."
"He was," Hermione said, and the three of them laughed, but Ron caught the wary looks she and Dudley traded.
"I did mean that," Dudley said in a serious tone. "When a teacher divides the loyalties of the students, the way Snape does, it weakens us all. The purpose of a good teacher is to unite all of his students with a proper understanding of the subject. That, by the way, is one of Father's favorite quotes."
"Proper?" Ron said with a snort, then apologized, "I'm sure you didn't mean it that way, Dudley, but the Malfoys use that word all the time."
"Yes, we do," Dudley admitted with a smile. "Perhaps if I explain what we mean by the word, you'll understand us better. Well, you'll understand me, at least. I can't vouch for my family in this world."
Ron stopped to listen, and Hermione gave him a wry smile, saying, "this is going to be interesting."
Dudley paused to look the red-haired boy squarely in the eye. "Ron, when I talk about a wizard's proper place, I mean as a leader and a teacher. We have that duty, and it is only proper that we accept it. But we must first be united amongst ourselves. That is why I dislike what Snape does in his class. And that is why Voldemort is despised. He would control. Not lead.. How can we help the others, the muggles, when we can't even help ourselves."
"I've never heard it put like that," Ron said, "And I've heard a lot of those things the Malfoys say.
"There's nothing wrong with being proper," Dudley said, with a smile.
"That isn't what Ron means," Hermione said, "You're talking about deliberately interfering with non-magical people."
"I'm not talking interference," Dudley insisted. "I'm talking about leadership. Hermione, let me be perfectly clear. I am in Slytherin because I am ambitious, and I admit it. Personally, I don't what to be a Voldemort, and rule with force. I want power, but I want it freely given."
"You want to be Minister of Magic, then?" Hermione said with a distasteful grin.
"NO," Dudley almost shouted. "I plan on becoming Prime Minister."
"But we don't let muggles know about us," Ron explained.
"That's right, Ron, because you didn't have Sirius Black as Minister." Dudley chuckled at the surprised look the two Gryffindors gave him.
"Muggles know about us, in your world?" Hermione asked, and Dudley nodded.