Over the next few days, Dudley, Ron and Dean pranked each other with the autographed Lockhart photo. First, Dudley popped it in a photo frame that he stole from a first year and placed in next to Ron's bed. He spluttered in digust upon seeing it.
He got his revenge by writing a love letter to Lockhart from Dudley and leaving it in the common room. Luckily, Dudley found it before anybody else did. Dudley also caught both Ron and Dean trying to attach the photo above his bed with a permanent sticking charm, but luckily, neither fully knew how to do it.
Somehow, Fred and George got a hold of the photo in the end and bewitched it to wolf whistle at passersby and make crude comments. This angered Hermione when the spell wore off and it just kept up one long, continuous whistle. She stalked up to her dorm. Laughing, Fred set the photo on fire with his wand, putting an end to it.
Dudley's copy of the Daily Prophet had arrived and he read it with interest—about the first time he had ever read a newspaper. The story about himself was on the third page.
Hogwarts Student Stops Philosopher's Stone Theft
Dudley Dursley, a muggleborn first-year won the House Cup for Gryffindor yesterday when he and his friends prevented the theft of the Philosopher's Stone. The stone had been moved to Hogwarts in August the year before for its own protection, but nobody knew that the real danger lay within the school walls.
Quirinus Quirrell, who had served with distinction as the Muggle Studies professor before becoming teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts attempted to steal the stone, battling his way through the various enchantments. He was thwarted by Dudley Dursley and a motley crew of other students. For his efforts, the students were awarded house points and, no doubt, achieved the thanks of Professor Dumbledore.
It was accompanied by a photo of Dudley, exiting the Hogwarts Express with a smug expression on his face. He supposed that the wizarding world had paparazzi too.
Ron snorted at the article, seeming put by being referred to as just part of a "motley crew."
It was a bright morning when quidditch trials took place. Dudley was trying out for beater and, at Dudley urging, Ron had decided to try out for the seeker's position.
"After all," Ron had said finally, "I suppose I can't be any worse than the prat we have currently." The current seeker, a fifth year called Pearce had been pretty awful from what Dudley had seen. Dean wanted to try out but didn't have a broom of his own. Ron was flying his old Shooting Star.
"Right," the Gryffindor captain said. "Glad to see some new faces. We need some fresh blood if we're going to beat Slytherin—flattened last year. I couldn't look Flint in the eye."
"You'll get flattened this year too if this is the best Gryffindor has to offer."
Dudley, recognising the drawling voice, spun around. Sure enough, it was Malfoy along with Crabbe and Goyle and the members of the Slytherin quidditch team.
"What are you doing here?" Wood demanded.
"Checking out the competition, Wood," said Flint, the Slytherin captain. "Not that we've got much to fear."
Draco laughed. "Just check out the broom weasel is flying—they were pretty fast when my grandfather was young."
He and the others went to take their seats.
"Ignore them," Wood said, bracingly. "We'll see whose laughing later."
The chasers had their trial first, each taking shots at Oliver Wood. The three chasers from last year, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet and Katie Bell all made the cut again.
The beaters were next. Other than himself and the Weasley twins, there was a burly 7th year taking part. "Reckon you can beat us, Dud?" Fred asked.
"That's why I'm trying out," Dudley replied. "I've got a Nimbus, that puts your broom to shame."
"Speed isn't everything to be a beater," George warned. "Watch and learn."
Dudley had to admit the twins were very good. They worked well with each other, one covering the players while the other went on the offensive. They were accurate too when they hit the ball.
"Finally find a broom that can hold your weight, Dursley!" Malfoy called.
Dudley taken by surprise, swung at the bludger and missed, causing the Slytherins to laugh.
"Don't let them get to you, Dud," Fred said as he flew past, after another bludger.
The bludger came near Dudley again, this time, instead of aiming at the three seekers, he spun around and smashed it towards the stand. He, Fred and George laughed as Malfoy and Flint had to dive out of the way.
"Nice one," George said approvingly. "Shame they dodged."
"Come on, Dursley! Don't get distracted!" Wood called.
Dudley narrowed his eyes and sent the next bludger at Katie Bell, causing her to drop the quaffle.
"Better!" said Wood.
Dudley found he enjoyed quidditch and that he was quite good at it. While he wasn't the best flyer—he turned slowly and couldn't zoom around the pitch the way the Weasley twins did (even with his far superior broom) he found that he could hit the bludger hard and could aim well.
"Good, good," said Wood when they landed. "Right, Fred and George are back in the team. Very nice work."
Dudley sighed. He had expected as much but it still came as a disappointment. In older times, he may have thrown a tantrum, but he was older now and accepted Wood's decision.
"Dursley, you did well for your first try," Wood continued. "I'm going to make you first reserve."
Fred and George clapped him on the back and Dudley grinned. First reserve was better than nothing.
Next up was the seekers. Ron was looking green as he mounted his broom. Last season's seeker was trying out again, as was a skinny 4th year called Penruthlan. The snitch was released and the first to catch it would be made seeker.
They all shot to the air on Wood's whistle with Ron on his slow broom trailing behind.
"He's a better flier than I thought," Fred admitted as they watched.
Ron was the best flier of the lot but his broom was letting him down. When Penruthlan and Pearce went in a dive for the snitch, he was left far behind, and it was only the fact the pair got in each others way that the snitch escaped.
Suddenly, Ron, who was at the other end of the pitch to the others went, went into a dive.
"Go on, Ron!" Fred urged.
Penruthlan and his superior wand was catching up. The Slytherins were jeering and hissing. Ron reached out a hand, lunged for the snitch—missed! Penruthlan was close behind, he had removed a hand from his broom.
Suddenly, Ron, sensing the danger leapt from his broom in a wild dive at the snitch. His hands closed around it and he fell 10 feet to the floor, landing heavily on his back.
"Ron!" Fred and George with Dudley behind dashed over. The Slytherins were laughing.
"Are you ok?" George asked.
Ron, though winded and bruised, was otherwise unharmed. He was sitting upright with the snitch fluttering weekly in his fist.
"Great job, great job!" Wood was saying. "That's the sort of desire we need if we're going to win the House Cup this year. Did you see that? Ron put catching the snitch above all else!"
"You need to get a better broom, though," George said after helping Ron to his feet.
The first quidditch training session was to take place a few days later. Ron had written to ask his mum and dad for a new broom, but they had written back saying with his dad suspended from work they just couldn't afford it. So Ron had to use his old Shooting Star.
"Where are you going?" a voice asked as Dudley, Ron and Dean headed to meet with the team. Dudley and Dean had decided to tag along and watch the training session too.
Dudley looked around, it was Colin Creevey, holding his camera.
"Quidditch," Dudley said shortly.
"Coo! Are you on the team?" Colin said, impressed. "What position do you play?"
"I'm not, Ron is," Dudley grunted.
"I'm seeker," Ron said, proudly.
"Coo! That's the most important position isn't it! If they catch the snitch they win the game for the other team. Wow, you must be a good flier."
"I suppose," Ron said, awkwardly.
They met up with the team outside, practice had just begun when a group of people wearing green robes walked onto the field.
Wood shot toward the ground, landing rather harder than he meant to in his anger, staggering slightly as he dismounted. Ron, Fred, and George followed.
"Flint!" Wood bellowed at the Slytherin Captain. "This is our practice time! We got up specially! You can clear off now!"
Marcus Flint was even larger than Wood. He had a look of trollish cunning on his face as he replied, "Plenty of room for all of us, Wood."
Angelina, Alicia, and Katie had come over, too. There were no girls on the Slytherin team, who stood shoulder to shoulder, facing the Gryffindors, leering to a man.
"But I booked the field!" said Wood, positively spitting with rage. "I booked it!"
"Ah," said Flint. "But I've got a specially signed note here from Professor Snape." He pulled out a piece of parchment and read "I, Professor S. Snape, give the Slytherin team permission to practice today on the Quidditch field owing to the need to train their new Seeker'. "
"You've got a new Seeker?" said Wood, distracted. "Where?"
And from behind the six large figures before them came a seventh, smaller boy, smirking all over his pale, pointed face. It was Draco Malfoy.
"Aren't you Lucius Malfoy's son?" said Fred, looking at Malfoy with dislike.
"Funny you should mention Draco's father," said Flint as the whole Slytherin team smiled still more broadly. "Let me show you the generous gift he's made to the Slytherin team."
All seven of them held out their broomsticks. Seven highly polished, brand-new handles and seven sets of fine gold lettering spelling the words Nimbus Two Thousand and One gleamed under the Gryffindors' noses in the early morning sun.
"Very latest model. Only came out last month," said Flint carelessly, flicking a speck of dust from the end of his own. "I believe it outstrips the old Two Thousand series by a considerable amount. As for the old Cleansweeps" - he smiled nastily at Fred and George, who were both clutching Cleansweep Fives -" sweeps the board with them."
None of the Gryffindor team could think of anything to say for a moment. Malfoy was smirking so broadly his cold eyes were reduced to slits.
"Oh, look," said Flint. "A field invasion."
Dudley and Dean were hurrying over too.
"What's happening?" Dudley asked Ron. "Why aren't you playing? And what's he doing here?"
He was looking at Malfoy, taking in his Slytherin Quidditch robes.
"I'm the new Slytherin Seeker, Dursley," said Malfoy, smugly. "Everyone's just been admiring the brooms my father's bought our team.
Dudley gaped, open-mouthed, at the seven superb broomsticks in front of him.
"Good, aren't they?" said Malfoy smoothly. "But perhaps the Gryffindor team will be able to raise some gold and get new brooms, too. You could raffle off those Cleansweep Fives; I expect a museum would bid for them."
The Slytherin team howled with laughter.
"At least the Gryffindors got in on skill alone," Dean shot back. "They didn't have to get their Death Eater daddy to buy a place."
The smug look on Malfoy's face flickered.
"No one asked your opinion, you lanky ugly Mudblood," he spat.
There was an instant uproar at his words. Flint had to dive in front of Malfoy to stop Fred and George jumping on him, Alicia shrieked, "How dare you!"
Ron plunged his hand into his robes, pulled out his wand, yelling, "You've called Dean and Dud a mudblood for the last time" and pointed it furiously under Flint's arm at Malfoys face.
A jet of green light burst from the end of Ron's wand, hitting Malfoy on the stomach. Slytherin's new seeker doubled over and vomited a pile of slugs all over his robes.
The Gryffindors howled with laughter. Wood was doubled up, hanging on his broom stick for support.
"Ohh!" said Creevey, snapping a photo.
"Put that ..." Malfoy began. Breaking off as he vomited once again.
"Come on, let's take him to Pomfrey," Flint said, cautiously putting his arm around Malfoy to support him.
"Bye bye," Fred said, blowing a kiss at them as they left.
George wiped a tear from his eye. "Ron, that was brilliant! I never knew you had it in you."
Ron was grinning, looking proud of himself.
They were still chortling and crowing about Ron's victory over Malfoy as they entered Gryffindor tower. Neville and Seamus were in the common room playing wizarding chess. Dudley gave a nod to Neville as he passed and heading up to his dorm room. He stopped short, his eyes widening. There was something sat on his bed.
