When Dudley next opened his eyes, he was very confused for a few minutes because he couldn't tell whether his eyes were open or not. He tried closing his eyes, but noted that this didn't change the darkness. Was he blind??? He shifted around. For some reason, he was no longer lying on the hard wooden floor in his house, but on something soft- a bed. It wasn't his bed, though, or his parents', or Harry's. In fact, the very environment around him, even though he couldn't see, was extremely un-homelike. Dudley shifted again, this time fearfully. If he wasn't at home, then WHERE was he?
Before he had time for more thinking, he felt a presence entering the room.
"Dudley?" a quiet, scared voice asked timidly.
Dudley recognized the voice. "Harry? What happened? Why can't I see? Where are we?"
"We're at Hogwarts," Harry sniffled.
"Harry? What's wrong? Hogwarts.. wait, that's the schol you go to, isn't it?? Why are we HERE?? Where's mum and dad?"
"They're... I.. I don't know!" Harry broke down and started crying. "I woke up here.. and Professor Dumbledore told me that he'd explain when you woke up, and uncle and auntie aren't here!!"
Dudley paused and tried to sit up. Out of the two of them, he was the more calm and rational one, and he took over. Although he didn't understand some of what Harry said, other things were now clear. "Well, then, all we have to do is wait until Professor Dummeldoor comes here and let him explain. No doubt mum and da are fine. But... wait a min.." He suddenly remembered why he had blacked out in the first place. "Da HIT me!!!"
"Yes.." Harry sniffled. "And then.."
Both of them were stunned.
"And then I did magic." Dudley finished slowly.
The two boys sat together, shocked at the revelation.
"Yes, you did. But then- WHY didn't you get a Hogwarts letter, when I did? And why weren't you able to do magic earlier? And..." Harry paused.
"Why can't I see." Dudley stated quite calmly.
As they paused to think, another presence approached through the doorway. Dudley, though un-seeing, noticed first. "Harry? Someone's behind you."
Harry spun around, and then relaxed. "Professor." he said cooly.
The door was closed with a rather loud clang, and then some muttered words were said.
"Professor Dumbledore?" Harry asked, more unsure.
The man- Professor Dumbledore, evidently, swept into the room and sat down beside Dudley's bed. "Good day, boys," the man said in a collected voice, yet friendly. "I'm sure you have many questions to ask, as do I, but before we start, I suggest we return Mister Dursley's vision to him?" Without waving for a reply, he muttered something like 'conspicio reverto' (revert sight- forgive me for the kinda stinky Latin) and suddenly, Dudley found that he could see again.
He was in a large room, in something like a cubicle surrounded by white curtains, and was wearing a white nightgown. On his right, Harry was sitting on his bed, and to his left was a strange man. With a long white beard, smiling gray eyes and strange robes instead of normal clothing, this strange man- wizard, actually, had an air of great wisdom and knowledge.
When Dudley finally took everything in, Professor Dumbledore continued speaking. "Well, let's start with the basics. Right now, we are in the hospital wing at Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. To start from the beginning- at 2:39 PM, the Ministry of Magic Department for Underage Magic, the DUM, noted a large amount of magic being done at Number Four Privet Drive, namely the 'Contego' - shield- spell, the 'Defendo' - defend or protect- spell, and the 'Mutare Ad Porcarius' - change into pig- spell.
"When the DUM went to investigate, they found the two of you, fainted- you, Harry, with a broken nose and you, Mr. Dursley. Next to you, grunting in shock, was a large pig- Mr. Vernon Dursley."
Harry and Dudley looked at each other. Something was missing, but what?
"What about mum?" Dudley blurted out suddenly.
Dumbledore's face grew grave. "I'm sorry to break it to you this way, boys. Petunia Dursley had a heart attack when her husband attacked the two of you, and she didn't receive help quickly enough. She died."
Dudley just sat there, his face suddenly stark white.
Dumbledore looked at him, worried. "I'm sorry, Mr.-- Dudley, I shouldn't be the one to break it to you... Would you like someone to come?"
Dudley stared blankly, his pupily contracted so that they were barely visible.
Dumbledore glanced at Harry- he was wearing the same expression, although slightly less pale than Dudley. He sighed and decided to call Poppy- this business was just too much for him. But as he started moving, Dudley spoke up.
"Is. Is. Is my f-f-father? Where... is- where is he."
Dumbledore looked almost surprised. "Why, don't worry about that, Dudley. He's going on trial for child abuse. He'll never touch you again." His voice and posture positively leaked confidence and satisfaction.
Dudley decided that he hated this man. "I. Want. My. FATHER!"
Dumbledore DID look surprised. "Oh. but, dear child, he hit you!"
Dudley launched himself off of the bed and leaped at the man, pale face and contracted eyes making him look quite rabid, and tried to strangle him. "How. dare. you. INSULT. MY. FATHER!!!" He screamed hoarsely.
And the next few moments were extremely hazy... Dumbledore screaming in shock.. and unfamiliar lady in white arriving hurriedly.. more people in robes, holding sticks... a man with greasy black hair trying to force some acid green liquid into him.. and then, finally, came blessed quiet, safety, and peace, where nobody died, no hateful old men told him lies, and he was safe and sound.
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Outside that blessed peace, although in the same room, a large number of people in robes crowded.
"Well, what came over him?" A stern looking professor with her hair up in a severe bun asked. Although she was well-dressed, she looked as if she had just gone through a battle- which she had, to some extent.
The greasy-black-haired man sneered. "Yes, Minerva, we all know exactly HOW much you know about your students... However, since you obviously didn't notice, the miserable muggle was in shock, and so is one of your precious little students sitting over there." He smiled evily.
A short professor looked at the man, surprised. "Why, Severus! Really! Don't be so cruel to Minerva, she was the one who ended up holding the poor child down so you could give him a calming potion! Really!"
Minerva McGonagal just sighed. "Yes, I did. And you know, in case none of YOU-" She glared at Severus. "-noticed, we should probably give Harry a calming potion too before he does the same."
Dumbledore nodded, somewhat shaken up from him experience, agreed, and Professor Severus Snape administered a potion to Harry, who soon joined his cousin in the peaceful dreamless sleep.
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I KNOW this chappie was somewhat uneventful and unexplanatory, but I promise you'll get the explanation in the next chappie. And I also know that it's only the 16th and I said I'd update the 17th, but since I got six reviews I'll update today.
Oh, and by the way- this is set during the summer following Harry's first year at Hogwarts. Dudley is about the same age as Harry, in case someone was wondering.
Oh- and one last point. IF YOU WANT THE NEXT CHAPTER, I WANT SEVEN REVIEWS!! SEVEN!!!
Thanks to everyone who reviewed!