Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
Chapter 4
Dudley
I almost didn't go. In fact had a severe panic attack even contemplating the possibility. Somehow Dudley had gotten my address and sent me a letter. He asked me if I would be willing to meet for tea, that he had recently gotten engaged and wanted me to meet his fiance. Why, I have no idea. My therapist suggested I go, believing it might help me deal with the trauma of my childhood
"You no longer a scared little boy, Harry. Your a grown man, a hero. You have nothing to be afraid. I'm not saying you should try and build a relationship with them but at least tell your cousin how you feel and why. I think it would be good for you, very cleansing."
He was probably right, he usually was, still...easier said than done. Ever since I received his letter I'd been having nightmares, mostly concerning my Uncle, who's apparently dead. Had a heart attack right in the middle of a steak dinner celebrating a promotion he received. At least he wouldn't have to face him, but what if his Aunt was there? Jealous Aunt Petunia who took out her bitterness on an orphaned little boy. Who took joy in calling me a freak, and telling me my father was drunk and my mother a whore.
One nightmare was so bad, Ginny ended up calling St. Mungo's. Not ever Tucker could pull me out of it. They gave me a dreamless sleep. It helped, it always did, but I didn't like to take them. I knew people who had become addicted after the war. I wasn't the only one who had nightmares and flashbacks.
I eventually agreed, knowing that as much as I hated the idea of going, I needed to face my demons. Ginny would come with me, as would Tucker and I would have my medication potions if need be. We thought it best to leave James with Molly. Dudley was back living at number 4 Privet Drive and I didn't want my son to see the place I spent my abusive childhood. The place that left not only physical but mental scars, scars that will never fully heal.
I dressed in a pair of tan trousers and a green polo shirt. Ginny had a field day shopping for me in muggle London. I didn't go but she knew my size and had no qualms about spending my money on dressing in the finest name brands. She bought herself a nice dress as well, it was blue and flowy, looked amazing on her. We put Tuckers official service dog harness on him and made our way to Surrey.
I have a car. I don't like taking public transportation and sometimes, especially if I want to go to a muggle area, I can't apparate, so I bought a car. Actually, I bought a very expensive, luxury car, a red Bentley convertible to be exact. I'll admit I may have gone a little overboard, but as Ginny often tells be, after everything I've been though I deserve to splurge once in a while.
Pulling up to the house, it didn't look as if time had passed at all. Everything, up to the daffodils that hung in boxes under the front room window seemed to all but freeze in time.
"You okay," Ginny asked reaching over and taking my hand.
Taking in a long, calming breath, I nodded. "Come on, let's get this over with." Opening the car door I stepped out, Tucker jumped out after me. Clipping his leash in his harness I took Ginny's hand and together we headed up the walkway.
I almost didn't recognize Dudley, he had lost some serious weight, and gain a great deal of muscle. "Wow big D, you've certainly gotten in shape."
Her gave an awkward laugh but shrugged, "Seeing you dad drop dead of a heart attack makes you put your priorities in order, I'll tell you that much. Please, come in."
Ginny gave my hand a reassuring squeeze as we made our way through the front door and into the familiar, yet unwelcome setting.
"You must be Ginny?" Dudley asked my wife as we sat down on what was actually a nice leather sofa, not the ugly flower print one that my Aunt always had covered in plastic.
"Yes, it's… nice to meet you." She said sounding rather constrained. She knew how he treated me as a kid, and she wasn't shy, at least to me, when it came to pointing out how she felt about him.
Dudley laughed and shook his head, "Don't worry I understand, you probably think I'm an ass for everything I did to Harry as kids; and you'd be right. That's part of the reason I invited him here. I was hoping we could, sort of make amends."
Dudley looked back up at me, gave me an uneasy smile, and just waited like he was expecting me to say, "Sure, I think that's a great idea." I honestly didn't know what to say. I was starting to feel a little tense, I could feel my shoulders stiffen. Tucker immediately placed his paw on my leg.
I glanced down at my furry helper, and then up and my wife who gave me a reassuring smile. Looking back up at my cousin I simply said, "We'll see."
He sighed but nodded in understanding. "I get it, Harry. I was a down right jerk to you. I wouldn't blame you if you hated me for the rest of my life."
"No," I breathed, "I don't hate you."
My whole life was filled with hate, and anger and violence. I didn't want to feel that way anymore. Not ever again.
My cousin gave what sounded like a breath of relief. "Ava should be here soon, she had to work late, one of her co-worker called in sick so she had to work an extra hour so they weren't short staffed. She's a great gal, works with kids with special needs. She's got such a big heart, I'd never met anyone as kind as her. Sort of odd that we ended up together." He laughed. "Actually she's the reason… well, I've changed a lot Harry."
I just nodded and listened I didn't feel like saying much of anything. His life was great, good for him. He met a nice girl, good for him. He lost a ton of weight, good for him.
"So, Dudley." Ginny spoke up, "What is it that you do for a living?"
It's funny that she asked that because in the car on the way over we were making bets. I said Sumo wrestler, she guessed professional food taster. I believe sideshow act in a carnival and custodian at a woman prison were also brought up as a possibility.
"Oh, I sell real estate. Ava's mum got me into it. Before that I was doing odd jobs here and there. What about you two?"
A smirkish smile slipped to my lips as I happily answered, "Well I coach flying and referee Quidditch at Hogwarts and Ginny plays professionally for the Holyhead Harpies."
"Um...does that have anything to do with your broom?"
"It's does. It's a game that involves two teams of seven players. Everyone is on broomsticks and is played in a hockey rink-sized pitch. It's a contact sport that's kind of a mixture of rugby, dodge ball and tag. It involved 3 types of balls, the Quaffel, a Bludger and the Golden Snitch. The team is made up of several positions, a seeker, which is what I played in school, the chaser, which is what Ginny plays, a beater and a keeper, who guards the hoops, there are three on each end of the field. Getting the Quaffel through the hoops earns points. That's what Ginny's main goal is. Ultimately the game ends when the seeker catches to golden snitch, that's worth 150 points alone."
Dudley had a completely bewildered look on his face, sort of like when we were in primary school and he was trying to figure out math.
"That sounds… complicated."
"Not really, I guess you just have to get used to it. It's the most popular sport in the wizarding world. Much like football is in the UK."
"Oh, that's neat."
It was at that very moment the front door opened and in walked Ava, a petite girl, her mousy brown hair was up in a pony, she had on a blue T-shirt with a logo on the upper left side and faded jeans. She gave Dudley a kiss on the cheek as he greeted her and then turned to the woman standing beside her. I had specifically mentioned in my letter to Dudley that I thought it would be best if our first meeting did not involve him mum, but there she was in all her pinched faced glory.
"Mum, what a surprise. I didn't expect you today." Dudley sounded oddly nervous as he gave his mum a quick hug.
"Oh, well I was on my way to an appointment this side of town so I thought I would stop by. By the way, whose Bentley is that in the drive."
"That would be mine." I replied, standing. Tucker stood as well, his side pressed firmly against my leg. Ginny also, stood.
"H-Harry." It almost sounded like a question, but she knew it was me, I hadn't changed that much in 7 years.
"Hello Aunt Petunia. How are you?"
"I...what are you doing here?" She asked still not having moved from her spot by the door.
"Dudley invited me to meet his fiance. So I came and I brought my wife."
My Aunt looked at Dudley, then at me again and then Ginny. "Oh." Was her quick reply.
"Come on mum, let sit." Dudley took her by the arm guiding her to a nearby recliner. Close enough that she could join the conversation but not so close as it was overwhelming for me which I really appreciated.
"It's nice to meet you, Harry." Ava extended her hand and gave me a kind smile. Then doing the same to Ginny.
"You too," I answered sitting back down. Tucker again sat beside me, placing his head back on my leg.
"You have a beautiful dog, what's his name?" She asked.
"Tucker." I replied, rubbing his head. "I hope you don't mind, he's my service dog."
"Not at all." She grinned. "I love dogs. I just lost my lab last year, haven't had the heart to get a new dog yet. He's a golden retriever, right?"
"Yes. He's a great dog. Great with our son, too."
"You have kids?" Dudley asked. I suppose it made sense I didn't mention James in the letter because I didn't want to bring him into this insanity.
"Just one. James Cedric, he just turned four." I replied.
"That was your dad's name right, James?"
"It was." I was surprised he knew that. I don't think my Aunt mentioned my dad's name but on a rare few occasions and it was never in a positive light. "And Cedric was the name of my friend, you recall the one who died when I was about 14."
Dudley paled slightly but nodded. He had teased me for weeks about my nightmares.
"I remember."
I looked over at my Aunt her lips were pushed so tightly together I was surprised they weren't turning white. "Why do you have a service dog anyway?" My Aunt huffed, "You look able bodied to me."
"That was an inappropriate question to ask, mum." Dudley scolded his mother looking quite embarrassed. Honestly it didn't surprise me. She's always been a bitch I didn't expect her to suddenly have a change in personality over the past several years. I honestly doubted she would ever change.
"It's OK Dudley, I have PTSD, Aunt Petunia. Tucker helps me manage my anxiety and panic attacks."
A sudden glimmer in her dull blue eyes indicated that she realized why I might have PTSD, she shut up pretty damn quick after that.
"Harry was in the military." Ginny supplied, looking more at Ava than anyone else. It was what we tell muggles when they ask. It was true in a way. I was in Dumbledore's Army. "He saw a lot of combat." Also very true.
"Oh...well, he's still a beautiful dog, you must feel lucky to have him." She added, attempting to smooth over the uncomfortable topic.
"I do. So, Dudley say's you work with kids with special needs."
Over the next 30 minutes we had a lovely conversation with Ava and Dudley. When she asked what we did for a living, we told her I coached sports at my old secondary school and Ginny did the same at the college level. We weren't about to reveal to this muggle who we just met we had magic, even if she was marrying Dudley. I would admit, Ava was a great girl and Dudley seemed to completely adore her. In a way I was happy for him, he really had changed. His mother on the other hand, not so much. She left about ten minutes into the conversation saying she didn't want to be late for her appointment. I think we were all relieved when she left.
When we finally did leave, I thanked Dudley for inviting me and that I would be looking for the wedding invitation in the mail.
I'm not saying I was suddenly going to become his best mate. There was way too much bad blood for that, but I would certainly keep in touch.
A/N Up next Harry confronts Ron.
