Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J. K. Rowling and her publishers, not to me. I'm not making money off this.

Spoilers: All five HP novels.

PRELUDE--MUSINGS & CONVERSATIONS

(Interlude, Muggle-Style)

(Concurrent with "XIII: Albus and Severus")

Detective-Constable Carleton Markham entered the Little Whinging station house with much on his mind. "Has the Magistrate seen those boys yet?" he asked one of his constables.

P.C. Anderson nodded. "He's just starting on them now. We have three officers taking down all the statements." He looked around, and lowered his voice. "If you ask me, sir, that Dursley woman—the aunt, not the mother—is a right nutcase, she is. Frankly, I don't see how the Potter boy could possibly be involved in this, but she thinks he's some kind of apprentice criminal mastermind."

Markham scowled. "Well, she thinks that because she's been fed a pack of damn lies by her brother. Potter was indeed involved with that Sirius Black, but there seems to have been political complications that indicate that he wasn't a murderer. In any case, the man's a month dead now and not our problem.

I talked with Potter, and with his Headmaster—it seems that he had at least two of his Professors from his boarding school upstairs in a careers conference that whole time, and one was his Headmaster—and frankly, Potter's the most innocent one of this whole wretched mob, including the parents."

"I rather thought so," Anderson replied. "That Dursley boy is as spoiled as they come, but his friends Piers Polkiss and Dennis Hayward seem to be the real problem. The Dursley parents are as bad as he is, but I think they really didn't know—only because they turned a blind eye to all his doings."

Markham nodded. "What strikes me as odd: you heard about all that was said there today—but when I interviewed Potter, I asked him what he honestly thought about his cousin. He rightly tabbed him as a bully, a vandal, and thoroughly spoiled, but he doesn't think the drug charges are warranted. In fact, he stuck up for Master Dursley as one who was victimized by his lifelong friends and now knows it; and suggested that we give him one more chance—but away from his father and his friends." He shook his head. "I can't see why Potter would be so forgiving of someone whom he admitted had bullied and tormented him all his life, but he was."

"Some people are like that," Anderson replied. "But sooner or later those Dursleys are going back home; and then what happens to Potter? I'll bet my next pay packet that they won't be nearly as forgiving, and Potter's going to be in for it. If he gets the short end from them, he's going to explode, and no telling who will be the victim, then. He's little for his age, and won't be a match for Dursley senior in a stand-up."

"I don't think so," Markham said, with a slight smile. "It seems that the Professors were listening in on the whole thing, so as to protect Potter if he needed it. They know the situation, and that Headmaster was horrified. I'll bet my next pay packet that either he won't be there when they get home—or the Professors will convince the Dursleys to sign him away to them. It's obvious that he isn't wanted there."

"I hope so," P.C. Anderson replied. "Think they'd take on the Dursley boy, too?"

"I asked," Markham replied. "Apparently he doesn't meet the entry qualifications for Potter's school; it seems to be one of those advanced academies or such. The Headmaster did sound a bit regretful, though, and suggested that I find the boy another environment."

Another officer interrupted them. "You said you wanted to talk to young Dursley—he's ready."

"Take him to my office," Markham directed. He entered it himself and took his seat. A minute or so later, Dudley Dursley came in and was seated.

"All right, I've spoken with Master Potter, and with the Headmaster of his school, who apparently was upstairs the whole time. Both of them think you're salvageable. Why is that?"

Dudley gulped. "The Headmaster of Harry's school? I've never even met him. I think they were supposed to be by this weekend for some kind of conference."

"They were upstairs, listening in, the whole time. Now, as I said, I talked to Master Potter, and he thinks that you're a bully, a vandal and spoiled rotten. Care to argue that?"

"N-no, Sir," Dudley replied, hanging his head. "It's all true. Harry's...well, odd; but he never did any of those things. And my parents resented the fact that he was dumped on our doorstep with a letter, instead of being sent to an orphanage, so they took it out on him."

"I see. Harry also seems to think that if you get away from the friends who betrayed you—he seems sensitive about that, for some reason—and the parents who spoiled you past usefulness, and have a guardian who can give you decent guidance, that you might make something of yourself. He also backed up your crediting your boxing for keeping you away from marijuana. The thing he was the most angry about was not the insults to his parents, or to this Sirius Black--who by the way is now dead, apparently dying right in front of Potter--he seems to be used to that; but the insult your friend Piers did to his good name, by using it as an alias for the Hayward boy. He doesn't fit into this picture, not at all."

You don't know the half of it, and I daren't tell, thought Dudley desperately. If I tell, I'll end up in the locked ward—I'll bet he never heard of...of wizards! "That much is true, sir. Harry never had anything to do with any of this."

Markham leaned back in his chair, but kept his eyes on Dudley. "So—what do you propose we do with you? We have you for at least speeding, harboring underage drinking, and the presence of the joints."

Dudley bowed his head in misery. "I'll own up to the speeding. I couldn't stop Piers from having his pints in the bag; I didn't really see it, but he does it a lot. But I never expected Dennis to have joints on him, and then dump them in the car! I don't think he sells to that Carmichael; I think that's his supplier; but I don't know for sure either way."

Markham considered something. "And what about the vandalism and bullying that seems to be blamed on Potter by your neighbors?"

Dudley did not raise his head. "He didn't do any of that, either."

"And why are you now willing to speak up for him, when all your life you have made his miserable?"

"First, my parents aren't here to contradict me, nor is Aunt Marge; I have no idea why she hates him so much, as they've hardly ever seen each other, unless it's because Dad does. Second, I owe Harry one; last summer, when I was out walking alone, I was attacked by...well, a gang of bigger and meaner bullies, and he happened by and somehow got us both out of it in one piece." Dudley swallowed hard. "When I said I wanted protection, I also may want protection from my Mum and Dad, if they ever hear that I spoke up for Harry. They hate him, but they're stuck with him, and everything I ever did to him they encouraged."

Markham shook his head. "It seems to me, Master Dursley, that there are two abuse victims in that house, not just one; you're the other one. For now, I will not speak of any of this to your parents, or in any public record. If you will testify against the other boys, I will see that you get protection, and I can get you released tonight into your parents' custody, so that you need not be in the lockup with the others. Later, depending on what the Magistrate says, you may be eligible for placement elsewhere."

Dudley looked hopeful. "I won't have to get locked up?"

"No. I don't see the need at this time, so long as you behave yourself. Understand, however, that you will be, if any of our officers catch you at anything. And you will be required to appear before the Magistrate to answer the speeding charge. As this is your first listed offense, and you are sixteen, you may get off with a fine, a license suspension, and possibly community service."

Dudley nodded sadly. "Mum and Dad won't be pleased, not at all; but it's better than having me in the lockup." Another thought struck him. "Sir, when we go home, I'm afraid Harry's in for it. Unless his Professors are still there, Mum and Dad are going to give him the screaming fit of his life, and that's saying a lot. He's been moody and upset about something ever since he got back from school; after all that happened today, I'm afraid he isn't going to take it any more." A previous comment sank in. "It must be about Black, if he died in front of Harry...he's his Godfather, but he's supposed to be a mass-murderer. Harry won't have told Mum and Dad about him at all."

Markham smiled. "On that score, you needn't worry. Black, by the way, apparently was wrongfully convicted. In any case, he's dead and won't be a problem. As I said, I spoke to this Professor—oh, he has some odd name, I can't recall—who is the Headmaster. Harry is going to be removed from there, and never come back; your parents will be the ones to get the lecture, and I don't think that the Headmaster will be at all easy on them."

Dudley shivered. "I hope so. Harry's...well, weird, but he doesn't deserve what Mum and Dad are going to give him."

"It's too bad that you are not eligible for that school of his, or I'd recommend that you be sent there. His Headmaster comes across to me as a very caring and humane man."

"That wouldn't do, even if I were eligible," Dudley shivered. "My parents hate everything that reminds them of Harry's parents, and the school is one of those things. Bad enough that Harry goes there, but at least he's away for ten months of twelve. If I were sent there, I might get disowned or something."

"Then since it isn't possible, we won't discuss it again." Markham stood up. "Come, let's go to the clerk's desk; I need to sign the form to release you to your parents."