Dudley Dursley and his wife Violet, of number 5, pivot drive were proud to say they were normal. Dudley, after a rather 'rebellious youth' as his father would say, settled down with a wife and son becoming a manager at the Grunnings working alongside his father.
He moved next door to his parents preferring to be close to family. His mother and wife sit together during the day watching his son gossiping about the neighbors on the block as women do while the men went to work.
Their house was almost identical to the other Dursley's on the block. There were only minor differences that one would notice. The kitchen was painted a pale blue instead of yellow and the stairs were on the right and not the left. The most glaring difference was the giant painting that hung on the younger Dursley fire place.
It was a giant ghost stag in the middle of a dark wooden settling. Violet hated it as it didn't match anything else in the house. When Dudley brought it home and hung it she protested explaining how garish it looked compared to the rest of the décor. Dudley was not swayed and only would share that it made him feel safe and reminded him of his youth. She knew for a fact he didn't go camping and never saw a real stag but he refused to share more.
Those things were never discussed however and time went on. Their son, Preston, got his father's features and attitude. Dudley however had a slightly firmer hand than his own father and while he never cared about many things he would make Preston say sorry if he would pick on the local boy who was thin and wore glasses. Violet was happy with her family even if she didn't understand Dudley all the time. Her mother-in-law was hard to win over at first treating her as the woman taking her son away but eventually the ladies got along fine.
It was a Sunday morning in May when a knock interrupted the family eating breakfast. Violet looked to Dudley as Preston kept eating and whining about his most recent game. Dudley coughed and told Preston to answer the door. Stuffing 2 more bacon bits into his mouth he stood up and went to the door. It was silent for a moment until a loud, "Dad! It is for you!!" came from the hall.
Dudley stood and took the napkin out of his shirt wiping his mouth. This must be about the grass length again was his initial thought. The neighbor boy had been trying to mow the Dursley lawn for 3 weeks now to get some cash and Dudley was refusing. The child did a bad job and he wouldn't listen to his father complain when they visited.
As he rounded the corner he stopped dead looking at a middle aged man in robes. The last time Dudley had seen those types of robes it had been as a wizard left the family back home announcing that the dark lord was gone and all was right in the world.
Dudley rarely thought of those times in his youth. He wondered how Harry was and what happened but he could never bring it up. He wife didn't know of Harry or anything wizard related and his parents acted like Harry never existed. It was as if that part of his life was a locked away memory.
"Good Morning Mr. Dursley! I was wondering if I could have a word with your family?" the man said with a polite smile. Preston looked from the man to his father with a slight smirk. It was clear that Preston was going to say something that wouldn't be appropriate and frankly a wizard is not the right person to tease. Dudley knows THAT for a fact as he still has the scar from a pig tail. He wife still doesn't know that story either. More secrets.
"Good Morning. Preston, please get your mother and meet us in the living room. Tell her we are hosting." He says to his son with a stern look. Preston, crestfallen, grumbles an 'OK' while shuffling back to the kitchen.
"Oh that is very kind of you Mr. Dursley!" responds the wizard as he comes in wiping his feet and shuffling into the living room.
"My name is Edward Thomas, and I am a representative for a school that your son has qualified for. I am sent when a family is… not aware of the school for ease explaining next steps and how it works." Mr. Thomas explains as he sits on the couch. Dudley's hands balled into a fist as he follows the wizard into the room. So, Preston was a wizard, what a turn of events. His mind started racing through the little things he remembered happening around Preston.
When a game appeared in their bag after getting home that Preston wanted, a teacher giving him an exception when he was late on school work when they were previously strict. Harry had once grown his hair overnight, how could he have missed these things with Preston?
His wife came in with tea and Preston came in with cookies. They both gave Dudley a curious look but sat down taking in the father's demeanor. He was tense but polite which meant this man was to be respected but they didn't know why.
"Well, now that we are all settled, I am pleased to announce that Preston is in fact a wizard!" Mr. Thomas announced as if this was joyous news. Violet went into an owl pose with her mouth slightly open. Preston looked to his father as if a joke was being played on him. Dudley said nothing and just stared at the man in front of him.
"Mr. Thomas… I do not appreciate being teased in my own house." Mrs. Dursley states as her husband has gone totally silent.
"oh, I can assure you Mrs. Dursley, this isn't a joke. Preston has appeared on our list and will be joining Hogwarts in the fall with the rest of the witches and wizards starting with him." Mr. Thomas shares while eyeing Mr. Dursley with interest. The father did not seem surprised or treating it like a joke which was rather curious. Mr. Thomas reviewed the Dursley files cover to cover as he always does before going to a house to know how to handle the news.
Nothing in the file indicated that the Dursleys knew anything of wizards. It was rather strange that the families information was more complete than a normal file and they were on record at the ministry of magic, however nothing stated anything different than a regular muggle family.
Father was raised by his muggle parents, same for the wife. Son Preston had no wizard interactions but clearly had the gift of magic. Yes, everything was the same as the other family his visited so why was Mr. Dursley looking so comfortable?
When Mr. Dursley finally speaks it isn't what anyone would expect. "When will he need to get his books and how do we exchange the muggle money?"
Mr. Thomas dropped his entire cup of tea at the word muggle. Muggle? MUGGLE?! How does he even know that word? "Oh my word I am so sorry!" Mr. Thomas squeaks as he pulls out his wand and fixes the mess and cup.
Both Violet and Preston gasped while Dudley watched as if this is a normal occurrence. Dudley remembered and collected many pieces of information during his protection guard. This included when a wizard detail would call him muggle daily. He remembered when they would fix all the broken plates that his mother threw at a wall in her fit of rage when she wasn't allowed to go shopping. (The only time in his life he saw his mother break down) It also included how when his father had started muttering to himself about drills the wizards brewed a calming solution and explained things to Dudley changing his views of the world forever.
"Mr. Dursley I am curious to why you know so many things about wizards? All of my records indicate that this family did not know anything about… my kind…" Mr. Thomas asked with a friendly tone. Violet was staring at her husband as if he was someone she had never met before while his son gave him a look of pure worship.
Yes, Dudley remembered that the wizard promised his father that their name would be removed from any records and be disassociated with Harry in every way. His parents were going to have many words when they found out all that work was in vain.
"I think it would be easier for me if you would contact a wizard for me. He would… was… I would like to speak to him please. I have a few things to talk with him about it." Dudley decided on. In truth, Dudley had wanted to talk with Harry for a while now. He wanted to say thank you for saving his life, he wanted to apologize better than he did in his youth. During his quarantine, he learned so much about Harry and his life from the wizards guarding him. He was humbled but in the end he had no way of contacting Harry after it was done. Harry was meant to have a better life as an adult and Dudley moved on. Now he was given a chance to make it right. He was also aware that talking with Harry meant someone could help him and watch Preston.
"I would be happy to Mr. Dursley! I am thrilled with how well you are handling this news" Mr. Thomas said.
"Of course, Mr. Thomas. His name is Harry Potter." Mr. Thomas promptly dropped the cup and broke it… again. "H-H-H-HARRY… P-P-POTTER?!... You want ME… to contact HARRY POTTER?... Do… do you have any idea who you are asking for? I can't just… request Harry Potter to come HERE. Merlins beard! Do you also want the Minster of Magic as well?! Might as well bring the entire golden trio as well! Are you… having a laugh at me?" Mr. Thomas starts ranting. While standing and pacing around. He has completely forgotten the poor tea cup bleeding tea into the carpet.
Violet is watching with wide eyes not understanding much but she does know that the stain will set the longer this man continues to not fix the spill. Preston is not thinking of the stain but is wondering if he will be required to wear robes as the funny man is.
Dudley lets Mr. Thomas rant for a bit longer before clearing his throat. "I know who that is. I am politely asking if you could send him a… patron-dis and ask if he would come to the Dursleys."
Mr. Thomas stalls in his pacing and looks as Dudley as if he grew another head. A silent conversation happened between the two men. Whatever Mr. Thomas saw, he whipped his wand in a complicated pattern and send a glowing light flying out the house through the ceiling.
A strong stone silence surrounded the group as everyone waited. Preston looked at his parents and the strange Mr. Thomas wondering if anyone was breathing. They didn't need to wait long. A glowing light in the form of a stag landed in the middle of the room with a booming voice.
"I am on my way within the next few minutes." Was Harry's voice. Mr. Thomas looked faint as he sat down on the couch again with color draining from his face.
"I… I have never met Harry Potter. I don't even know what to say! Do I bow? Maybe I should bow. Oh Merlin do I get to shake his hand?!" Mr. Thomas was not talking to any of the Dursley's as he mumbled to himself clearly excited and nervous about the upcoming meeting.
The doorbell rang startling the wizard. He starts to rub his hands on his robes and wiping his mouth shaking. Dudley stands up flexing his hands and strides to the door taking a deep breath. When he opens the door, both Harry and him take a long stare at each other.
It is a wave of emotions as both of them look each other over. "Blimy Dudley, you got even bigger." Harry said with a small smile.
Dudley couldn't help it and smiled back. "Looks like you finally got some food in you. Though you still are a skinny git." He responds while reaching out his hand for a handshake.
Harry stares down at it and with a full smile shakes Dudley's hand back.
"Harry.. i… I wanted to say… thanks. Thanks for… everything and I am… sorry." Dudley says with his throat closing up. That was such a small volume of words on what he really wanted to convey. Dudley was never good with his words but he wanted to make sure he was making amends and saying something.
"Wow big D…. I… honestly didn't know you had it in you." Harry responses while being led it. Mr. Thomas makes a loud squeak noise and smooth's his robes one more time.
"Mr. Potter! Harry… can I call you Harry? Oh Merlin I can't do that! You are Harry Potter! I am just… honored sir! I can't explain how happy I am to finally meet you!... oh my you are shaking my hand!!! My HAND! I will remember this day forever."
"Does this happen to you often?" Dudley grumbled while being blocked from entering his own living room. Harry looks over his shoulder and smiles, "yeah pretty much." He tells Dudley and then turns to Mr. Thomas, "It is a pleasure to meet you! May I ask why we are talking to the Dursley's today?"
As Mr. Thomas explains that Preston is a wizard, Harrys head snaps to the youngest Dursley and his eyes widen a bit. "Another Duddy-kins… oh wow Dudley. And a wizard to boot! Is Vernon having a heart attack yet?"
"Well we just found out from Mr. Thomas here. I am sure they will be… thrilled. Harry let me introduce you to my wife Violet…" he gestures to the woman still sitting.
That is when Harry sees the painting on the fire place. Despite the wife and son having no idea what is going on, Violet sees a recognition in this man's face. He is looking silently at the picture and having an emotional reaction.
Dudley mutters, "I can't forget it.. forget what you did that day" and Harry looks at him with a sad smile. These men have a history, something they went through. They seem to be acting like brothers of sorts.
Maybe this means they are reconnecting, maybe it means nothing after today. One this is for sure to the people in that room, these men had stories that have not been shared in a long while.
Hopefully though… it was a new beginning and a forgiveness for the past.
A second chance to make amends.