The double attack on Justin and Nearly Headless Nick turned what had hitherto been nervousness into real panic. Curiously, it was Nearly Headless Nick's fate that seemed to worry people most. What could possibly do that to a ghost? People asked each other; what terrible power could harm someone who was already dead? There was almost a stampede to book seats on the Hogwarts Express so that students could go home for Christmas.
Strangely, Malfoy was staying behind, along with Crabbe and Goyle.
Dudley half considered stopping too, just to hopefully get the chance for some revenge on Malfoy, but he felt like he needed a break. Word of him beating up Ernie Macmillan again had spread around the school. He couldn't walk down a corridor without the Hufflepuffs skirting away as if he might suddenly attack. Luckily, the Gryffindors, once they heard why he had done it, had largely been accepting of Dudley's reasons.
"He sounds like a prat," Fred had said, one breakfast after he asked why he'd beat Ernie up in the library. "I'd have done the same if he went around saying I was Slytherin's heir."
"He definitely doesn't believe it," George had agreed. "He's just causing trouble. I mean, you're muggleborn, one of your best friend's is muggleborn and the other is a blood traitor."
"Plus," Fred had said. "Heir of Slytherin—the clue's in the name. Why aren't they pointing a finger at that lot?" He jabbed a finger towards the Slytherin table. Luna too informed him that the Ravenclaw's thought it was absurd.
"Anyone with half a brain can see that the heir of Slytherin would be a pureblood," she had said, upon passing him in the corridors. "Talk around Ravenclaw Tower is that it's Marcus Flint."
"Definitely mean enough," Ron muttered.
"But I don't think it's a person at all," Luna informed them. "I think it's a ghost doing it … think about it, nobody would ever suspect a ghost of releasing Slytherin's monster …" Given Luna's usual outlandish theories, the fact that it could be a ghost releasing the monster wasn't all that bizarre, Dudley had to admit.
It was on the very last day of term while he was emptying his trunk looking for his favorite gobstones when he found the voodoo doll. It fell out of his trunk and onto the floor.
"What's this?" Ron said, seizing it. His mouth settled into an 'o' shape.
"Is this real?"
"Yeah, I got it in Diagon Alley," Dudley said, taking it back. "I forgot about it until now."
"What is it?" Dean asked, puzzled.
"A voodoo doll," Ron said in awe. "Where'd you get it, Dud? These are illegall—really illegal."
Dudley told them how he bought it in Diagon Alley.
"Wow," Ron said, impressed. "You know these actually work—they're very dark magic. Can be very dangerous."
"I got it to use on Malfoy," Dudley said. Dean had laughed but Ron looked thoughtful.
"I heard dad talking about them," Ron said. "A whole bunch were imported a few years ago."
Dudley rummaged in his trunk and pulled out the book. "Here, I got this too."
Ron flicked through it. "Yeah, it seems like a proper one. Wow … are you?"
"Maybe," Dudley said. "I owe Malfoy—big time."
"Well, be careful, and don't tell anyone you have it. These are illegal," Ron said. He read one of the pages thoughtfully. "Ok, here we go—there should be different colored pins. Black ones –blimey – black ones kill."
"They're in this little bag," said Dudley.
"Wow!" Dean looked horrorstruck.
"Yellow ones cause injury … red ones cause mild pain. You need something of the victim. Hair, it seems, or, no wait, you can be looking at the victim too. The poke it with your needle where you want to cause pain—while thinking of the victim."
"Sounds easy enough," Dudley said. "Shall we get Malfoy?"
"I dunno, it sounds dangerous," Dean said.
"Not with the black one," Dudley said, hurriedly.
"I don't reckon it's worth it, Dud," Dean said. "You heard Ron, they're illegal. Malfoy's a wart, but we don't want him dead. Or you in Azkaban."
"Fair enough," Dudley sighed. He supposed that was true. He crammed the doll and the bag of pins into his pocket. "I'll get rid of them," he promised. He may not like Malfoy, but he supposed using voodoo on him was a step too far.
"Hey, Dud!" Ron said, excitedly. "Where did you buy it?"
"Shop called Cobbs or something like that. Cobb and Webs. Why?"
"You know how my dad was suspended? Well, he's back at work but his reputation is shot—all thanks to Malfoy's dad. But if he raided this shop, found some illegal voodoo dolls, it'd help him get back to normal."
"Go for it," said Dudley.
Ron didn't hesitate. He grabbed some parchment to write a letter to send to his dad.
Dudley was glad to return home for the winter. Ron, the twins, Ginny and Percy were staying at Hogwarts over Christmas.
Dudley's dad and mum were at the station and greeted him warmly. Vernon shook hands with Dean—Dudley supposed his fear and distrust of wizards was wearing off a bit now.
Dudley had a good Christmas. He met up again with his old gang and had a nice few days paying visits to each of his old victims.
Vernon had decorated the house with a real Christmas tree, so Number 4, Privet Drive looked very festive on Christmas Day as Dudley got up to open his presents.
He hadn't told his mother or father about owning the Potters vault—a bit of cunning on his part. If his parents didn't know, they would still buy him expensive presents. This was proven true when he opened some new designer brand clothes and trainers which he proudly wore and a new red bicycle.
Next, he opened his presents from his Hogwarts friends. Dean had sent him a scarf and some bat treats for his pet bat. Ron had sent him a book called "Flying with the Cannons", a book of interesting facts about his favorite Quidditch team, there was also a cutting from the Daily Prophet, which Dudley read.
"Raid Against Dark Arts Shop"
Recently disgraced Head of the Misuse OF Muggle Artifacts Office Arthur Weasley regained some of his standing in the wizarding community and the ministry by leading a successful raid against Cobb & Webb's of Knockturn Alley. There they found the last of a batch of illegally imported voodoo dolls and some illegal books on the dark arts.
Cobb & Webb's specializes in Necromancy—itself a banned form of magic, however, the study of its theory is not outlawed, nor is the sale of necromancy artifacts for education purposes. The discovery of the illegal voodoo dolls has led to calls for further investigations of other shops in the area for illegal dark artifacts.
"It's always been a shady place," said Mildred Hubble of Gloucester. "You can buy anything there."
No doubt, the confiscation of the voodoo dolls is fine work by the Ministry as the more dark artifacts off our streets the better.
Dudley grinned, feeling pleased for the Weasleys. He opened the last present to find a new, hand-knitted sweater from Mrs. Weasley and a large plum cake.
