As the weeks passed by without so much as a sniff of an attack, it seemed that Dudley destroying the book had worked. Now that Hermione was back on speaking terms, Dudley had seen his work improve thanks to her help with his studies. She had also agreed to start helping them again with their dueling practice. At first, she had been reluctant.
"So you can go around hexing people again?" she had snorted when asked. Only when Dudley promised not to practice on people or hex people for no reason did she consent to join them. They had practiced a few spells that she had found, though they all, Hermione included, were finding the conjunctivitis hex to be beyond their abilities.
Lockhart's lessons had improved. Now that they had gone over the books, he had started teaching them about some of the spells and techniques he had used. Dudley got 10 points for his essay on the homorphus charm for flattering Lockhart by mentioning that only the most skilled and talented of wizards could use to fully reverse the effects of lycanthropy. He even got higher marks than Hermione, who had insisted on sticking to the facts and that there was no evidence the charm could be made permanent.
Now that Hermione was part of their group, Dudley had started to lay off Colin Creevey. He had received any torment for weeks and had started frequenting the common room more and more, though kept well out of Dudley's way.
In March several of the Mandrakes threw a loud and raucous party in greenhouse three. This made Professor Sprout very happy.
"The moment they start trying to move into each other's pots, we'll know they're fully mature," she told the class. "Then we'll be able to revive those poor people in the hospital wing."
The second years were given something new to think about during their Easter holidays. The time had come to choose their subjects for the third year, a matter that Hermione, at least, took very seriously.
"...it could affect our whole future," she told Harry, Dean and Ron as they pored over lists of new subjects, marking them with checks.
Hermione just signed up for everything.
Percy Weasley was eager to share his experience. "Depends where you want to go, Dudley," he said. "It's never too early to think about the future, so I'd recommend Divination. People say Muggle Studies is a soft option, but I personally think wizards should have a thorough understanding of the non-magical community, particularly if they're thinking of working in close contact with them - look at my father, he has to deal with Muggle business all the time. My brother Charlie was always more of an outdoor type, so he went for Care of Magical Creatures. Play to your strengths, Dudley."
Dudley decided to go with whichever seemed the most interesting and the easiest. Arithmancy and numerology were both out, he decided immediately—they sounded too much like hard work. He checked off Care of Magical Creatures, supposing that was a class that would get him outside and wouldn't involve much book work.
"What do you think about divination?" Ron had asked.
"That's just looking at crystal balls and stuff, isn't it? How hard can that be."
In the end, he Ron and Dean picked Divination and Care of Magical Creatures. They had sounded like the most interesting.
Gryffindors next match was against Hufflepuff so Ron was practicing most nights. On a few occasions, Dudley and Dean went to watch. The team was looking sharp. Ron was becoming quite a good seeker and he and the twins were confident about their chances.
"Diggory's broom isn't much better than mine," Ron had said. "So he won't have the advantage that Malfoy did. And I know all about his Wronski Feint now, so I won't fall for that."
"Perfect quidditch conditions," Wood had said, the morning of the big match. He loaded Ron's plate up with eggs.
Dudley was wolfing down his usual sausages and slices of bacon. Hermione was giving Ron advice from a quidditch book that she was reading and Dean was eating porridge.
After breakfast, they trooped down to the quidditch pitch. Dudley, Dean and Hermione took their place in the stands and Ron went to get changed.
The teams walked onto the field to tumultuous applause. Oliver Wood took off for a warm-up flight around the goal posts; Madam Hooch released the balls. The Hufflepuffs, who played in canary yellow, were standing in a huddle, having a last-minute discussion of tactics.
Ron was just mounting his broom when Professor McGonagall came half marching, half running across the pitch, carrying an enormous purple megaphone.
"This match has been cancelled," Professor McGonagall called through the megaphone, addressing the packed stadium. There were boos and shouts. Oliver Wood, looking devastated, landed and ran toward Professor McGonagall without getting off his broomstick.
"But, Professor!" he shouted. "We've got to play - the cup - Gryffindor-"
Professor McGonagall ignored him and continued to shout through her megaphone:
"All students are to make their way back to the House common rooms, where their Heads of Houses will give them further information. As quickly as you can, please!"
Dudley watched as she gestured for Ron, Fred and George to come over. She spoke to them. Fred suddenly gripped George's shoulder tightly and Ron had clasped a hand to his mouth.
Dudley hurried over too. "What's the matter?"
McGonagall eyed him for a second. "Go to your dormitory, Mr. Dursley."
"Are you ok?" he asked Ron, who was looking green.
Ron gave a jerky nod of his head and Dudley awkwardly went to join Hermione and Dean.
"What's the matter?" Hermione asked.
"Dunno, they've got bad news I think."
"You don't think …" Dean began, looking at Dudley.
"No way, I destroyed the diary."
They all looked back at Ron and the twins who were being led to the castle. Dudley, however, couldn't shake the feeling that there had been another attack.
