Dudley had always felt bad for his cousin. As long as he could remember, Harry had been ridiculed and beaten by his parents.

He always hoped it would change, that they could get over whatever old grudge they held, let him enjoy his time having a brother of sorts, but it was clear it wouldn't.

Especially now, as he watched his father bring his foot to Harry's ribs for the fifth time so far, simply for not filling his wine glass enough.

He watched with a wince as Harry took another kick and curled in even more on himself, letting out occasional yells of pain when his composure slipped.

Dudley never stepped in to help though. Even with the brotherly love he thought he might feel for his cousin, he never stepped in, instead keeping up the pretense of hate in front of his father in fear he would treat him the same for loving a "freak." But Dudley didn't think he was a freak.

Eventually the kicks let up but the way Harry stayed laying on the kitchen floor for several minutes longer let him know it was really bad.

Only once his father left the room did he approach Harry and lay a gentle hand on his shoulder, making him flinch violently.

The small four year old boy was whimpering and shaking with fear even as he saw his cousin was the one leaning over him.

Dudley slowly helped him up and the bulky boy picked up his cousin, considering he barely weighed 10 kilograms.

He carried him over to his cupboard and made sure he was comfortable before locking the door like his father wanted and going to his own room.

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Of course Harry's birthday was ignored again. But Dudley remembered. He knew his cousin was seven today, and he could tell his mother did too.

Dudley realized his mother didn't actually hate Harry like she tried to make so clear every day, only that she was terrified of his father as well.

He didn't know if his father truly forgot or chose to ignore it or even beat him worse because of the day but he did.

He beat him to the point of unconsciousness and then further.

This time his mom stepped in and stopped him, sending him to the store to protect her nephew.

The second Vernon was gone her face fell and she rushed to her sister's son, praying he would be okay.

She picked him up gently and Dudley saw the tears fall as Harry cried out and awoke to surely unbearable pain.

His mother immediately went to the car and ushered Dudley after her and she placed his cousin in his arms just as he climbed in the backseat.

Petunia drove like a maniac to the hospital and didn't even park in one specific lane as she threw the doors open and ran inside with her precious nephew.

Dudley saw the looks of suspicion from the doctors and nurses as they struggled to treat him for being in a "car accident."

They clearly didn't believe a word but never said anything against it, no matter how much Dudley prayed and prayed they would.

Dudley pleaded with his mother to leave his father but she wouldn't budge, saying she would fix it, that Harry would be safe from then on.

But in the two weeks Harry was confined to a hospital bed, his father only got angrier.

The moment they got home Harry took another beating. That was the first time Dudley ever interfered with his father.

He never did again.

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Harry was turning eleven next week. Dudley was excited, but didn't know exactly why. He had a feeling something good would happen and he prayed he was right.

He was. Harry ran in with a letter in his hand and Dudley silently cheered that his father wasn't in the room.

Dudley didn't know what was in the letter, but his mother came over to see and squealed in excitement the second she saw the seal.

"What is it Aunt Petunia?" Harry's hoarse voice spoke up.

His mother smiled down at her nephew and that was the moment Dudley discovered the wizarding world.

She explained everything she knew, from Hogwarts to the Ministry of Magic, soon reaching the clearly dreaded subject of an evil wizard.

After a long, drawn out explanation of all the goods things out there, her face fell and she got real quiet, leading Dudley to join them at the table to listen in closer.

His mother looked around at the clock to make sure her husband wouldn't come home from work yet, and began her explanation.

"But Aunt Petunia, if it's so great, why couldn't I have lived there, or with another wizard that knew my parents?"

The question Dudley wondered was spoken aloud by Harry, his raspy voice actually making Dudley wince.

His mother sighed. "Harry, your parents didn't die in a car accident like we told you. They were murdered. By an evil, evil man. His name is Voldemort. My sister never said much about the situation, only that she had gone into hiding with her husband and baby."

Harry's expression alone wanted to make Dudley cry.

"Then you were left on our doorstep with a note saying your parents and godfather were gone, that this would be the safest place for you should any of Voldemort's followers come back for revenge."

Harry seemed to take this information frighteningly well, but Dudley knew if it was him, he would stop at nothing for revenge.

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The next seven years passed frighteningly fast.

Dudley noticed how his cousin became more and more reserved each time he came home from Hogwarts, but chalked it up to missing his friends, his magic.

Harry told him his escapades at Hogwarts, of fighting three-headed dogs, two-faced men, giant snakes, going back in time, his terrifying and horrifyingly sad venture into the Triwizard tournament, and more, and with each new adventure Dudley worried more and more.

Then Harry's seventh year ended.

Of course, they went into hiding before everything happened, and Dudley didn't receive a single letter in that time, but he knew it was only for safety.

When he finally did see his cousin again, he told him the evil man was gone, that his parents' murderer was dead, but Harry didn't seem any happier.

In fact, he seemed sadder.

Dudley didn't understand why, but realized, that it must not have given the closure he hoped for.

But Dudley never considered the emotional toll the years of unending abuse from his father took on Harry until he went to visit him one day, only a few short months after he defeated Voldemort, and found him overdosing on the bathroom floor.

He rushed him to the hospital, and he was okay, but Dudley never forgave himself.

It was only when Ginny, Harry's wife, gave birth to their son that his cousin seemed to see life as something worth living again, or at all.

James Sirius Potter.

Dudley couldn't have been more proud to be the little boy's uncle, and he spoiled him rotten.

Harry's friends Ron and Hermione were named godmother and godfather, respectively, of course.

When they had their second son Dudley was just as thrilled for his cousin, having completely cut all ties with his evil father.

Albus Severus Potter.

And once again, Dudley couldn't have been more proud to be his uncle. But when Harry asked to be godfather, he couldn't speak for several minutes, agreeing immediately after regaining his voice and spoiling him even worse than little James.

But Lily.

Lily Luna Potter.

The beautiful little girl made their family complete, and her shocking similarity in looks to the original Lily Potter were scarily striking.

And even then, Dudley still caught Harry staring off into space at times, saddened by the way his childhood turned out, being deprived of the relationship with his parents he had with his own children.

And Dudley hated himself for not stepping in after the hospital.

Because it could have been so very different.