Chapter 9 Hogwarts
It was time for school to begin. The subject came up of where Dudley was going to stay.
"It's not safe for him to be here alone without Harry," said Hermione. "Even in the new safe house they might find a way to get at him again."
"Don't worry," said Lupin. "I put in an application to the Ministry of Magic to have him tested. He has a tiny magic talent, enough for them to bend the rules and admit him to Hogwarts. He'll have to start as a first-year, of course."
"Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia would have been horrified, but that doesn't matter now, I guess" said Harry.
There were rumors that Voldemort would attack and derail the Hogwarts Express if Harry was on it, so Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Neville, and Dudley traveled on a private Knight Bus that was temporarily deeded to Dudley so it would count as a "home". Hermione sat next to Dudley, to Ron and Harry's great displeasure.
There was a concession booth on the bus, and Dudley goggled at the varieties of candy he had never seen before; he loved the Chocolate Frogs and the Every-Flavor Beans. (The latter he only loved until he got an "old tire" flavor).
"Don't eat too much, Dudley," said Hermione. "You don't want to gain any more weight."
"Are we still going together, 'Mione?" Dudley whispered to her.
"Not like we were. I was so scared... I won't risk that again until after I graduate," whispered Hermione.
Harry worried that Dudley would be sorted to Slytherin, but he ended up in Hufflepuff instead.
Draco Malfoy also arrived at school by Knight Bus this time. He must have decided not to risk traveling in the train after being hexed so badly the last time. The first time they ran into him was in the hall after dinner. Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy Parkinson rushed up to Harry and Dudley.
"I learned a new hex this summer just for you, Potter, to get back at you for getting my Dad arrested" Draco sneered.
Harry thought, "I'm with a blood relative, in a place I call home."
"I wouldn't if I were you, Malfoy," he said, making no move to defend himself.
Draco shot out the spell, which promptly bounced back on him. He dropped to the floor with every bone in his body rubberized.
"Crabbe, Goyle, get him!" called Draco weakly.
As Crabbe and Goyle moved in, Dudley blocked their path.
"You're not hurting my cousin," he said.
"Outta our way, moron," said Goyle.
It was two against one, but Crabbe and Goyle had never faced anyone as strong as they were who also knew boxing. Dudley promptly decked both of them.
"I'll get you for that," said Pansy. She cast a hex at Dudley, which also bounced; she fell stunned.
"I think I'm going to like it here," said Dudley to Harry.
Harry wasn't sure he was going to like it as much as Dudley, but it wasn't so bad having a new bodyguard.
Now all he had to worry about now was how he was going to defeat Voldemort. And that was plenty.
THE END
It was time for school to begin. The subject came up of where Dudley was going to stay.
"It's not safe for him to be here alone without Harry," said Hermione. "Even in the new safe house they might find a way to get at him again."
"Don't worry," said Lupin. "I put in an application to the Ministry of Magic to have him tested. He has a tiny magic talent, enough for them to bend the rules and admit him to Hogwarts. He'll have to start as a first-year, of course."
"Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia would have been horrified, but that doesn't matter now, I guess" said Harry.
There were rumors that Voldemort would attack and derail the Hogwarts Express if Harry was on it, so Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Neville, and Dudley traveled on a private Knight Bus that was temporarily deeded to Dudley so it would count as a "home". Hermione sat next to Dudley, to Ron and Harry's great displeasure.
There was a concession booth on the bus, and Dudley goggled at the varieties of candy he had never seen before; he loved the Chocolate Frogs and the Every-Flavor Beans. (The latter he only loved until he got an "old tire" flavor).
"Don't eat too much, Dudley," said Hermione. "You don't want to gain any more weight."
"Are we still going together, 'Mione?" Dudley whispered to her.
"Not like we were. I was so scared... I won't risk that again until after I graduate," whispered Hermione.
Harry worried that Dudley would be sorted to Slytherin, but he ended up in Hufflepuff instead.
Draco Malfoy also arrived at school by Knight Bus this time. He must have decided not to risk traveling in the train after being hexed so badly the last time. The first time they ran into him was in the hall after dinner. Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy Parkinson rushed up to Harry and Dudley.
"I learned a new hex this summer just for you, Potter, to get back at you for getting my Dad arrested" Draco sneered.
Harry thought, "I'm with a blood relative, in a place I call home."
"I wouldn't if I were you, Malfoy," he said, making no move to defend himself.
Draco shot out the spell, which promptly bounced back on him. He dropped to the floor with every bone in his body rubberized.
"Crabbe, Goyle, get him!" called Draco weakly.
As Crabbe and Goyle moved in, Dudley blocked their path.
"You're not hurting my cousin," he said.
"Outta our way, moron," said Goyle.
It was two against one, but Crabbe and Goyle had never faced anyone as strong as they were who also knew boxing. Dudley promptly decked both of them.
"I'll get you for that," said Pansy. She cast a hex at Dudley, which also bounced; she fell stunned.
"I think I'm going to like it here," said Dudley to Harry.
Harry wasn't sure he was going to like it as much as Dudley, but it wasn't so bad having a new bodyguard.
Now all he had to worry about now was how he was going to defeat Voldemort. And that was plenty.
THE END