Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.

Chapter Six

Marge's New Pup

"Ooooh, Twinkie-winkie-inkie," Aunt Marge was cooing over her newest canine acquisition. "You are just the cutest little foo foo, boo boo, goo goo. Yes, you are; yes, you are! And you're going to be my little star."

"Marge, thank you so much for taking this little pup. I know it doesn't have papers, and you have so much to do already with your brood, but it's a big help to us," Vernon said. "With Dudley off to his special school, it's just too much for Petunia and I to handle."

"Oh, don't worry, Vern. I'm glad I could take him. I know someone who can get some black market papers for the little chum, and we'll be ready to show junior straight off. Now where did you say Dudley is going now?"

"A special vocational school for teenagers with special talents, Marge," Vernon hedged. "A little of this, and a little of that. You know..." he trailed off. "Anyway, 'Twinkle' is a marvelous name for the pup; it really is, you know." Vernon succeeded in changing the topic even without the help of a decent segue. "We need to be off to Dudley's Parents Weekend at school next weekend. Thanks again for taking the pup."

Foregoing the special Hogwart's Express that was sent for its very first Parents Weekend in favor of their own auto, the Dursley's arrived at the Great Hall full of wonder. Having never had any interest whatsoever in Harry's school, it was an amazing turnaround for Vern and Petunia. Everything was fantastic- the candles, the robes, the professors in their fanciful Elizabethan garments. "There's our Dudders, Vernon- look how handsome in his Slythery robes! I can see the ladies eyeing him."

"That's 'Slytherin', dear- Slytherin."

Dudley rushed over with an attractive, though somewhat reluctant-looking young lady at his side. "Mum, Dad, there's someone I'd like you to meet. Her name is Hermione Granger- her parents are Muggles too- just like you. Hermione's my, uh, my tutor."

"We're pleased to meet you young lady." Vernon seemed his most gracious, if social-climbing self. "And what do they do for a living, my dear?"

Petunia, on the other hand, was her usual unctuous self. "My dear- we are sooo happy that you have taken an interest in our special son. You must know though that we think he's too young to settle down just yet. With all of the girls who fancy him, I do hope you don't get your hopes too high."

Dudley groaned lightly and shot his father a look like "Shut her up, please."

His affection for Hermione, though unrequited, was growing quickly due in large part to her inability to be outright cruel to anyone- even someone as loathsome as Dudley. Rather than seeing him as a formerly-Muggle equivalent of Draco, someone who'd tormented Harry throughout his life, Hermione had managed to equate him in her mind with a member of SPEW. Imbued with powers, but essentially powerless under the watchful eye and heavy influence of others- in this case his parents. As slightly twisted and perverse as this might seem, it hadn't clouded Hermione's perception to the point where she'd actually grown affectionate towards him... thank goodness.

"So, Mrs. Dursley, any word from Harry?" Hermione asked sweetly, ignoring Petunia's unwarranted cautionary comments.

"Harry? Why, no dear. None at all." Petunia looked surprised and perplexed, having forgotten about Harry's existence- much less disappearance.

"Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Dursley- so glad to finally meet you after all of these years," Professor McGonagall said, moving into the circle of conversation. "So, you've no word from Harry. I daresay we're getting quite worried about him. So unlike him. And not a soul in the wizarding world had a clue about what happened to him. When did you say you last saw him?"

"Well, we were just off to London for Dudley's big birthday. Harry was in his cupboar- I mean room, waiting to leave. And then he was just gone- like magic," Petunia giggled at her lame attempt at wizarding humor. "When we got back, he was still gone. The poor little puppy was all by himself, just yapping and yapping in a fearful state."

"Did you say you had a dog? Harry never mentioned a dog at Privet Drive," Hermione said.

While her wheels were turning, McGonagall's were as well. "When did you get a dog? Hermione's right. Harry never mentioned one."

"Oh, he turned up that same day," Petunia said with a sick expression beginning to cloud over her sharp features. "But we're sure it's one of Marge's- Vernon's sister. She breeds and shows bulldogs. She has it now- doesn't she Vernon?"

"Yes, right, right Petunia." Uncle Vernon got with the program, but had already registered the same heartsick thought that everyone in the circle- excepting Dudley- was thinking. Harry was the new little pup. This new information just confirmed for McGonagall the fear she'd been harboring since the beginning of the new term. Dudley had wittingly, but more likely unwittingly, transformed Harry with his newfound magical abilities.