Charlie watched Dudley pace like a caged tiger. Dressed in dark faded jeans, a white t-shirt with black dragons, and his classic scuffed to hell black boots, he looked fit to go to war. He muttered to himself, despite the frazzled state he looked incredible, his hair a mix of neat and ruffled.
He thought of Harry just then, the two cousins may think of themselves different as night and day, but Charlie noticed the similarities between them. Dudley's tendency to be quiet until he needed to speak and when he spoke he tended to rattle those around him.
Harry was like that too, deceptively easy going until you made a misstep such as an insult toward anyone he loves. Dudley also carried his past sins heavy on his shoulders, every irritation, and problem inside. He just hoped it didn't come out like a bomb as he'd heard that Harry's did.
"I dunno why you look like your going to your own execution, babe. No way my mum isn't going to love you and my dad's going to be bloody ecstatic getting to ask you questions about muggle devices" Charlie said.
Dudley only made a noncommittal sound and Charlie turned at the sound of the doorbell. He walked to answer it and Percy stepped in as he opened the door and Oliver followed behind. "How is he?" Percy asked low.
"Pacing" Charlie responded, he was well aware of what he signed on for when he quickly began dating Dudley Dursley. The anxiety and past eating disorder weren't something you forgot about quickly. He wouldn't pretend it didn't make him a little more attentive about certain things.
Dudley had an intense aversion to greasy foods, as in just the sight or smell would send him into dry heaves. His attention to his weight and looks also seemed to be a result as well. His need for appearances may be both his past disorder and also his childhood. Harry had told him a few things about the Dursley parents peculiarities.
From the prejudiced to public appearance to everything else. It should have made Charlie want to step away or doubt that he could be what Dudley wanted or need in a person. Maybe to some bastards, it would have made Dudley less desirable, tainted or something.
But to Charlie, it just reinforced his opinion that Dudley was incredible for coming out of it as charming, talented, and beautiful as he was. He was an enigma, oddly comfortable with crowds and loud people despite a few of his fatal flaws.
No wonder he was right at home at Grimmauld Place with so many people. Charlie had gone out to bars with Dudley a few times for what Dudley called 'Muggle culture lessons.' He drew people in without a word and Charlie never felt lonely despite the many people coming to speak to his boyfriend.
Charlie sighed and cut off Dudley from pacing across the room once again. "I know your nervous, babe, but really you have no need to be," he said.
Dudley sucked in a long breath and let it go "your right" he said and once again Charlie took a mental stumble backward. Dudley always seemed to do the opposite of the expectation. "I know it probably won't be that bad. I can't help it though, Mrs. Weasley will… she'll be in between feelings I think. Angry because of what I did to Harry and yet supposed to feel happy because we're dating."
Charlie considered this for a moment "my mom will do anything for us, her biggest fear has always been losing us in some way. Mom doesn't always love everyone that comes into our family right away, Harry and Hermione were kids at the time so obviously, she loved them immediately."
"She's never been able to resist cherub cheeks" Percy pointed out.
"But she accepts them always and eventually learns to love them. Bill's wife, Fleur is very unique and was too fussy to get along with mum at first but mum accepted her and I can tell from her face that even as she drives mum nuts she loves her. So… have faith in mum and in me. She'd never reject someone that makes me happy" he added.
Dudley nodded a little "okay, I'll stop pacing but I can't promise to not have any nervousness" he replied.
"Well of course not" Charlie laughed then kissed him fully on the lips, long and drawn out.
"Well, seems we didn't need to worry, after all, we'll see you at the Burrow," Oliver said, holding onto Percy's hand and they headed out and apparated as soon as they stepped out the door.
They headed inside and Molly bustled towards them pulling Percy then Oliver into crushing hugs and kissing them both on the cheeks. "How are you?" she asked turning toward the counters to prepare mountains of food.
"Great" Oliver said, beaming "what's for dinner this time?" he asked glancing at Ron who was also at the counter stirring some kind of sauce that smelled divine.
"Meatloaf, a boring recipe usually but Ron is making a sauce that he assures is delicious with it. The meatloaf is nearly done and the rolls are too" she said beaming proudly at Ron.
"I'm sure it'll be delicious, listen, mum, I wanted to talk to you about Dudley," Percy said.
"He is coming, right? I've been looking forward to meeting him," she said.
"Yes but he's a little nervous about meeting you because of his past with Harry and such" Percy waved his hand.
"Oh, I suppose I can see why he's nervous but if he can hold Charlie's attention…" she added.
"True, there's just something about Dudley though that makes him different. I never felt that when I met him as a kid" Ron said.
"Well, if Harry lived in such a stifling atmosphere until he was 11 and had to come back to that each year but Dudley constantly lived in it I think that'd put a damper on any personality" Percy mentioned.
"Yes… I do wonder if the Dursley's moved back to that awfully gaudy house" Mrs. Weasley commented.
"They did" they jumped a little, startled at the appearance of Dudley in perfectly fitted clothing. Percy blinked after his eyes widened a fraction, he supposed he hadn't noticed it before but Dudley tended to wear baggier clothing. Seeing him now, he saw how slim Dudley truly was and this coming from Percy was quite skinny.
Although, he had filled out quite a bit since living with Oliver who took pleasure in ensuring his nutrition. Not that Dudley looked like a scarecrow or anything just, well, lithe. His height and long limbs added to the effect like a cat that hadn't quite filled with enough muscle.
It was difficult to picture Dudley as fat now. "Oh, Dudley hello" his mother beamed and brought him into a hug which immediately made him relax and Charlie slump a little in relief.
"It's nice to meet you Mrs. Weasley, er in a more pleasant context" Dudley added, rubbing the back of his head, his cheek flushing.
"Of course, dear, my you've grown up so very handsome" she patted his cheek "I never would have thought…" she paused shaking her head.
"No I understand, I wasn't exactly the best-looking kid" he shrugged.
"Well, I- I honestly thought you looked more like your father, but I was wrong. You don't look anything like your mother, either, I think if I'm not mistaken you resemble your aunt quite a bit. I was never close with Harry's mother in school since she was younger but I recall this eye shape and bone structure" she smiled.
Dudley's eyes widened a little "really?" he whispered "but she… I saw a picture once, she's beautiful" he added.
"Ah, exactly love" Charlie grinned, pulling him close by the waist and placing a kiss on his forehead.
"Too bad Harry got specky git genes" Ron mentioned.
"Oi!" Harry admonished as he walked into the room and found Dudley, he looked a little surprised "how much do you weigh?" he blurted.
"Isn't that a bit rude?" Dudley asked crossing his arms.
Harry looked a little abashed "sorry, didn't mean to state that so abruptly. It's just I don't think I've ever seen you this thin before" he said.
"Um, 10 stone give or take" Dudley replied and Harry frowned "I'm not lying" he added.
"No, I figured not…" Harry said.
Dudley chewed on his lip "I think… Harry and I need to talk. Charlie and Ron, you can buffer" he said.
"Oh, then you can go into the study," Mrs. Weasley said. Charlie led the way and they all sat, Charlie at Dudley's side and Ron at Harry's.
"So I…" Dudley slumped a little then grabbed Charlie's hand "just keep quiet until I finish and I'll tell you anything else you want to know. I used to be anorexic, I guess that's what you normally call it when someone stops eating anything. It's weird because I never thought of myself as overly conscious about looks. Probably cause I was too busy eating everything in sight" he chuckled humorlessly.
"But when I was in hiding it's like I opened my eyes but even then I didn't care about being thin. All I could think was that I felt like a stranger in my own body, like it was a suit or a mask" Dudley said "I didn't sleep much either and I think that's kind of how I found music, there was this piano in a magicked room. I started playing it constantly which though it should have been a good outlet I'd play instead of sleeping or eating. Hestia found out that I… that I wasn't eating any of the food she sent up when I threw up stomach acid in front of her and because my voice was so hoarse and gone I couldn't speak."
Dudley hand shook badly in Charlie's hand "she um was livid and scared to death, my parents probably noticed everything the whole time but never said anything. That was the first time I'd ever been yelled at for something like that. No one ever shouted because they cared. Anyway, Hestia being her immediately started on potions that would heal my throat and began to explain that she expected me to stay in her room from now on to ensure that I would eat and not throw up every morning."
Harry was sheet white, firsts clenched on his legs "I dunno how she got through to me, I can't remember all that well cause I hadn't eaten anything in so long I was delusional. She never got angry if she gave me something and it ended up wasted or thrown up. I think that's what got me, she never nagged about it, just looked so sad and disappointed. I swear if I wasn't gay as hell I'd marry that woman, I never want to see her so upset ever again" Dudley said, kissing Charlie hand to ensure him despite his words.
"So… I became somewhat normal but there were a few foods I could never stomach. Will never be able to again actually, I was finally eating normally even if I was hyper conscious about what it was. Hestia was pissed that I was still losing weight til Daedalus checked me over and you know assured her it wasn't the bad kind. Instead of losing everything at once, it was gradual. I cried when Hestia and Daed had no choice but to shrink my clothes," Dudley explained.
Harry opened his mouth then closed it remember he couldn't speak until Dudley was finished "I might have had a tiny relapse though when I discovered that years of… gorging oneself leaves its marks. I could handle the stretch marks but not the extra skin" Dudley looked a little green at just remember this.
"Hestia brought me out of it again and somehow found a spell that shrank the parts of skin. She cried after she did it and said she was so sorry but there was nothing to get rid of the stretch marks" Dudley's eyes watered a little.
"That's when I realized something I should have known all along. I wasn't alone, somehow this witch and this wizard found it in their hearts to care about stupid muggle boy. They cared despite how ugly I had been to you and to everyone. It's pretty dumb, huh? How I was given everything that my parents could get their grubby little hands on and I thought I was alone."
"Sounds like a common trait in our family," Harry said after a long moment of tense silence. "I… I'm sorry for everything that's happened to both of us to cause such anguish. I- I'm not much for comfort am I?" Harry laughed awkwardly.
Dudley shook his head firmly "no I didn't tell you that story because I expected comfort or wanted any. I… I've moved on, I accept my faults. It's like… I wanted you to know about things that I've dealt with. I'd like to be friends if it's possible, we… if my parents- I mean we should have been raised like brothers but we weren't." He stared at his hands on his knees and clenched them into fists. "Brothers may not be possible, hell friends might not be either but I wanted to get to know you. We lived in one house for 11 years and yet I know nothing about you, Harry" Dudley raised his eyes and Charlie fell a little bit in love with him, the intensity and beauty in those eyes made his heart tighten in his chest.
Harry nodded "Then let's start with that, we'll uh get to know each other. Just forget the heroic stuff you hear, okay" he said.
Ron snorted loudly and snickered "oh yeah because Harry doesn't have a hero complex so you can obviously forget it," he said.
Harry looked a little scandelized "I do not" he said.
"Harry, the first time I met you, you bought a cart full of snacks because I looked sad about eating a smushed sandwich," Ron replied sitting back. Harry looked uncomfortable then and Dudley looked like he was studying him, taking notes. "Knowing Harry, he'll downplay most things he does, let's start with something basic like hobbies?" Ron suggested standing up.
"It's not my fault everyone seems to think the sun shines out my arse, I let you all overplay everything and I'll end up like bloody Lockheart" Harry grumbled.
"Ah but then you have Ginny, me and Hermione pointing our your faults. Quite humbling, don't you think?" Ron grinned and Harry gave him a sobering look that made Dudley laugh.
"So what are your hobbies?" Dudley asked as he stood, grabbing Charlie's hand to pulling him up.
"Hm? Oh, well I'm a fair Quidditch player," Harry replied, "it's a sport-"
"Yeah, played on brooms, I know. Hestia loves Quidditch, she's uh taken me to a bunch of matches for Puddlemere United. What position?" Dudley asked and Harry looked shocked.
"Er Seeker" he responded.
"Ah, makes sense," Dudley nodded "so what kind of broom do you have?" he asked and Harry looked like he was speaking a different language.
"You… know a lot more about the wizard world than I've given you credit for," Harry replied.
"Well you kind of have to when you live with them, I can even make a few potions," Dudley replied.
"I guess so, um about my room, it's a firebolt" Harry replied.
"Really? That's incredible, is it really as fast as they say?" Dudley asked, Harry, nodded and began to explain everything about the firebolt while walking toward the kitchen. Charlie slumped in relief and turned when Ron nudged him.
"Good, it worked out alright, eh? Dudley is quite the character, I'm glad you never came home with some random Romanian woman. He should keep you on your toes" Ron said.
"Seems to be a trait that we Weasley men look for, someone to keep us ready to move at a moments notice," Charlie said and Ron only smirked. He walked towards Hermione who was speaking with Percy animatedly.
"Do mine eyes decieve me, I don't think I've ever seen a maiden so beautiful before" Ron announced and Hermione turned around and Ron pretended to stumble. "Ah, those eyes, tis like I've been struck by most beautiful arrows" he grinned.
Hermione huffed and tried to roll her eyes but she found it hard to remain so serious with Ron joking around yet there was truth in his statements. "Ron, stop," she said.
"Even her voice is so melodious, I'm paralyzed" Ron replied, his voice low and honest that it caused Hermione to flush.
"You are so… ooh" Hermione said and Mrs. Weasley beamed at the display of romance. Hermione took his cheek in her hand and kiss him for all of about five seconds then pulled him to the table.
"Show off" George muttered with amusement.