DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Almost

By dragongirlG

Dudley Dursley waddled into his cousin Harry's room, bored. His parents had guests downstairs, and Harry was in the bathroom. Looking around curiously, his eyes fell upon a leather-bound book on the desk. He opened the inside cover and saw To Harry, from Hagrid inscribed upon it in gold. As he turned the page, he saw something that scared him out of his wits.

There were pictures inside the book that were moving, all by themselves. The people were waving at him from inside the photographs. Dudley looked at the pictures closely and saw a man that resembled Harry, with the same black untidy hair and glasses, and a red-haired woman with the same bright green eyes: Harry's parents.

The fat blonde boy flipped through the pictures idly, recovering from the shock of the discovery. He knew he should have expected something strange or unusual in his cousin's possessions. His cousin was a w--no, he couldn't say that word. His cousin was a freak. That was it, a freak.

He shut the photo album and glanced over the things in Harry's open trunk. Inside were the long black robes wizards wore, a gleaming, polished broomstick with the word Firebolt on its handle, and a long, silvery cloak. Dudley picked it up and felt it. The material had a texture of water, yet it was not a liquid. The cloak dropped from his hand to the floor, lying in glittering folds.

As the young Dursley waddled around the room, he began to examine some of the objects in it. Several sheets of thick parchment were stacked up on the floor, and a pile of books next to them announced that they homework. Dudley picked a thick piece of parchment up and read it.

Harry Potter

Veritaserum is a very strong potion that forces people to tell the truth. Just three drops of it can make one spill all their secrets. It comes in a crystal vial and is a clear liquid. Its use is strongly controlled by the Ministry, but in some cases, it is necessary for interviewing certain people accused of being criminals*

At this point there was a hastily blotted line. The writing became shakier and marks stood out from the paper.

"Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Mason." Mr. Dursley's bass voice floated up the stairs. "I am glad the business offer worked out this time. Never mind that disaster three years ago!" Vernon chuckled. "No, no, the boy's gone now. It was all his doing, of course. Quite the troublemaker."

"It was lovely meeting you," answered Mrs. Mason.

The faint sounds of the lock and click signaled that Dudley could now come down and watch the telly. Just as he was about to get up and leave, there was a horrified exclamation at the door.

"Dudley?!" Harry's green eyes were wide with surprise. "What are you doing?"

"Er…I…" He backed away from his cousin fearfully.

"Don't tell me you're trying to get me in trouble with your parents," Harry said flatly, "saying I exposed you to magic."

Dudley winced at the word. "No, no, I'll leave now." He stood up as quickly as his bulk would allow. "I--I was just curious."

Harry looked startled.

"I--I wanted to see what, you know, your life was like," said Dudley quickly. "And--" He cowered as a mass from outside flew through the window.

Harry smiled at the snow-white owl that landed on top of the cage on the desk, which ruffled its wings disdainfully. "Hey, Hedwig," he said softly. He stroked her feathers gently. Dudley watched him, fascinated.

"You can go now," Harry told him. "I expect you'll be wanting to watch the telly or play some computer games."

Dudley nodded, but didn't move.

"Well?" Harry raised his eyebrows.

"What--" It hurt to ask the question. "What is it like to be a wizard?"

"What?" Harry looked at him in disbelief.

"What--what's it like?" Dudley repeated.

Harry sighed and shook his head, turning his back on his cousin. "I'm tired, Dudley," he said. "Go away." He looked down and rubbed the scar on his forehead, frowning.

"Well--why won't you tell me?"

Harry turned around and looked at him with weary green eyes. "You don't need to know."

"But I do!" Dudley insisted, unreasonably frustrated.

"Why?" Harry looked annoyed.

"Because…because…"

"You don't want to know," said Harry firmly. "Trust me."

"Why won't you tell me?" Dudley asked.

Harry shook his head and turned away. He opened the photo album and began to flip through it, his finger lightly brushing the photographs.

A small gray ball flew in through the window. Harry got up and caught it, untying the letter on the small owl's leg before. It twittered and flew out quickly, zooming around the room. Harry grinned and pointed to the window. It flew out into the open night sky and disappeared into the distance.

Harry opened the letter and sat down, glancing at his cousin briefly before beginning to read it.

Dudley sensed that Harry would not talk to him any more that night. He left the room.

The next morning after breakfast, Mr. and Mrs. Dursley went to the supermarket. Dudley found Harry sitting on one of the benches in the garden. Staring straight ahead, he drummed his fingers lightly in a relaxed sort of manner until Dudley's shadow fell over him.

"What do you want?" The question was expressionless, neither angry nor annoyed.

"Erm…" He shifted his weight from foot to foot.

"Don't tell me you're going to ask me what it's like to be a wizard again," said Harry in a bored voice.

"Well…"

Harry got up and strode past him, going to the sidewalk that lined the houses and the street. "I'm going to take a walk," he said, pulling up his oversized pants carelessly.

"Wait! I…I can go with you," said Dudley. Harry stared at him with a somewhat perturbed expression, then shrugged.

"God knows you need the exercise," he muttered, and began taking long strides down the street. Dudley struggled to keep up with him, panting.

"Can't we slow down?" the blonde called, gasping.

Harry shrugged and stopped, bending down to tie his shoelace as Dudley caught up with him. Then they continued at a slower pace that Dudley was barely able to keep. Harry stared ahead silently, his back straight and gait steady.

"So…so how was your school year?" Dudley asked uncertainly.

Harry looked at him in alarm. "Why do you ask?"

"I'm just wondering."

Harry cleared his throat and quickened his pace. Dudley ran to keep up with him.

"Wait! Why…why won't you tell me?"

Harry said nothing, but broke into a run that Dudley couldn't catch. Dudley stood there hopelessly, watching him go out of sight around a corner. He frowned in confusion. Why wouldn't his cousin tell him?

He struggled on back to the house alone, sinking down on the sofa. Harry returned a few minutes later, filling a glass of water for himself. Dudley got up to see him. His face was red and his hair was messier than usual, and his green eyes were filled with exhilaration. They dulled as soon as they spotted Dudley.

"Hello," said Harry brusquely.

"Hello," said Dudley.

"Did you have a nice walk?" Harry asked tonelessly.

"Yes."

"Good." He turned to go up to his room.

"Why won't you tell me?" asked Dudley, before he could leave the room.

Harry walked over to Dudley and scrutinized his face. He moved away to a comfortable distance and said, "Tell me everything you know about me."

"You're Harry Potter. Your parents died in a car crash. Your mum was my mum's sister. You're a…you're a…"

Harry waited patiently.

"You're a wizard," Dudley whimpered, squeezing his eyes shut tightly.

"That's all you need to know, isn't it?" asked Harry.

Dudley opened his mouth to say something.

At that moment, Mr. and Mrs. Dursley came home. Harry departed quickly, taking the water with him.

"Hello, Dudders," his father greeted, grunting as he placed a load of groceries on the counter. "How was your day?"