Everything is J.K. Rowlings. I only claim the plot. Everything else is hers, all the characters and the magic, all of it. Please let me know what you think though, I encourage feedback of all kinds, just be nice about it!

Sorry it's been a minute. I can't say for certainty how often I'll be able to post over the next couple of months. I'm deployed now, so I don't know how free my schedule will be but I will try to get some posts in. Now, this isn't a super long post. I didn't even plan on writing it until this morning actually. So let me know what you think. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Dudley groaned. Tried to shift and then groaned again. Pain was all he felt. He thought he had experienced pain after boxing matches but that was nothing compared to this. His whole body was stiff and sore and he couldn't help but remember the sensation of all his nerves being on fire.

"Oh thank Merlin, you're awake," a feminine voice cried out in relief. He heard a flurry of motion and then there was a weight on the bed next to him. "Please, can you open your eyes? Can you hear me? Do something to show you can hear me." The voice demanded. Dudley just groaned. He wasn't sure he could speak. His throat hurt. "Good, this is good. Merlin, yes. Please, open your eyes. I need to check you over. I have some water here and some potions you need to take. It will help with the pain, I promise. Please. Open your eyes." Potions? Merlin? He remembered his wizard guards saying that name, Harry had said it too occasionally. He must be with wizards then. Was Harry there? Was he alright?

Summoning his will power, the former bully blinked his eyes and immediately squinted them against the harsh light. It took a moment before the figures around him came into focus. There were two women and a man. The woman closest to him, leaning over him while sitting on the bed with her wand in hand, her eyes alert and flushed with concern, worry and concentration. It took him a moment she was mumbling words under her breath as she waved the wand in her hand. She had scars maring her darker skin and he withheld the urge to wince at the sight. Quickly averting his eyes, he glanced at the other two occupants. One was a thin, hollowed, regal looking blonde man whose skin and hair almost blended together. He observed from the foot of the bed with a critical look and a slight twist to his mouth. Dudley didn't know how the man could appear so formal and empowered by wearing rolled up sleeves with a shirt with the top buttons undone but he did it. Dudley caught the sight of a weird tattoo on his arm. But the man immediately shifted to cover said arm when he caught Dudley's eyes there. Confused but with a mental shrug, Dudley turned his attention to the other woman in the room and felt his breath caught. She was beautiful. Strawberry blonde hair tucked loosely behind her ears and washed out light green eyes watching him with concern and relief. He had never seen eyes like hers. They were captivating. She had a light splatter of freckles over her nose and her cheeks were a flushed red and her skin was slightly tanned. She was picking at her fingernails that had dirt beneath them and were far from polished and refined. She sat on the chair beside the bed and was leaning forward, her eyes darting all over him, as if analyzing his wellbeing.

"Well, it seems that you are making a full recovery," the scarred woman said. Dudley blinked. His observations had taken only a couple minutes but he had thought time had slowed as he had gazed at the beautiful woman beside him.

"Great," he croaked out and grimaced. The goddess beside him moved and offered him a glass of water. He reached for it gratefully and refrained from jumping when her fingertips brushed his. Nervously he drained the glass, only for the scarred woman to hand him some vials. He wrinkled his nose as he sniffed at them.

"They are pain relief potions," the scarred woman explained. "Trust me they will help. Malfoy and I have been working on them to make them more muggle friendly too."

"So I'm your guinea pig with this?" he questioned hesitantly eyeing the foul smelling concoction. The scarred woman looked sheepish at this but didn't disagree.

"Please, just drink them. They will help," the strawberry blonde urged him and Dudley found himself draining the vials without a second thought. Her voice was so sweet and innocent. How could he refuse her?

The three eyed him closely as he swallowed against the disgusting taste. "Well?" the blonde man finally spoke. His voice was clipped and cold but his eyes were that of an analyst, a researcher. Dudley had the unnerved feeling of being a science experiment.

"It tastes bloody awful. Aren't you lot supposed to be magic or something? Can't you at least make medicine taste good?

"Medicine?" the strawberry blonde questioned with a frown.

"Muggle potions," the scarred woman explained.

The blonde man sneered at Dudley before gritting out, "Is it working?"

Dudley blinked and then tried moving. He didn't feel any pain. He felt great actually. "Yeah! Actually I feel great. No pain at all. This is way better than the pain meds the doctors prescribe." The blonde man and the beautiful woman looked even more confused at his words.

"Muggle Healers," the scarred woman explained to them before turning back to Dudley. "Now, Dudley, I'm glad you're feeling better. My name is Padma, I've been healing you while you were unconscious." Dudley started at this news.

"Wha-? How long have I been out?"

"About three days," the doctor woman admitted. "We were getting worried. There isn't much research about how muggles are affected by the Cruciatus and Splinching. Most are killed after they are crucio'd after all."

"Three days? My parents!" He gasped out, throwing off his covers, only to immediately bring them back on himself with his face burning in embarrassment. He was only in his boxers! Where had his clothes gone.

Unwittingly he glanced at the beautiful woman beside him and beside a slight pink tinge to her cheeks she seemed unfazed and spoke to relieve his worry. "Don't worry. Harry had a letter sent to them explaining that you were fine." Dudley didn't think a letter from Harry would really set his parents minds at ease but he didn't question it at the moment.

"Where is Harry? There was an attack of some kind," he began, flashes of the attack in the alley returning.

"Don't worry. He woke up two days ago. He's still recovering," Padma assured him. "Actually, Malfoy, can you go alert him?" The blonde looked like that was the very last thing in the world that he wanted to do but he finally gave a jerky nod and left the room.

Dudley glanced at the two women on either side of his bed. "So what's your name?" Dudley asked, after his gaze kept straying to the sweet woman beside him.

"I'm Tracey Davis. I've been helping Padma take care of you," the woman replied with a soft smile.

"Good to know I was in such capable hands," he whispered. He thought he heard the scarred woman huff and mutter something but Dudley didn't care. He couldn't tear his eyes off the woman. The door opened and Dudley turned to see who it was. Harry walked into the room, leaning heavily on a cane but in remarkably better health than himself. His cousin was trailed by a black shadow of a dog, whose tail wagged rapidly and gave a small bark in greeting. Dudley blinked in surprise at the sight. He didn't realize Harry had gotten a dog.

"Dudley!" Harry cried out. "Merlins balls, Dudley, you have no idea how happy I am to see you awake," he cousin gushed out, claiming an empty chair next to his bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better now. They gave me some disgusting medicine but it works great," Dudley said, looking over his cousin. He looked much the same as he had when they met up for lunch, which wasn't really relief causing. His cousin was gaunt and pale, which was odd because Dudley remembered his cousin always holding a tan pretty well from the hours spent in the gardens doing weeding for his mum and then apparently at the school, Harry spent time outdoors flying then too. It was odd, almost painful to see his cousin so pale. It made his eyes more striking but the haunted, sadden look that was ever present in those eyes made them more unnerving than anything.

Harry smirked a little. "Yeah, they can't seem to get potions to taste good. But I'm glad they are working. I know Draco and Padma were working hard on adjusting them." Harry finally turned serious before he continued speaking, one of his hands going to scratch the top of the dogs head. "Look, Dudley, I am so sorry for all of this. I never meant for you to get hurt. I swear I tried to get you out of there as soon as I could but I think that just made it worse for you. I can understand if you never want to see me again, but please, stay at least until Padma has you fully healed."

Dudley blinked, and then blinked again. Harry thought that he blamed him for what happened? Absurd. Though, given their history, Dudley understood why Harry would come to that conclusion. Dudley glanced back at Tracey who was watching him closely, before going back to his cousin and clearing his throat. "Harry, I'm not just ditching you because of what happened. I saw you trying to fight them. I know it wasn't your fault what happened. I chose to stay and help. I could have kept going and hopped on the bus. It was my choice to go into the alley. You can't blame yourself for that." He spoke slowly and clearly, hoping it got through to his cousin. From what Harry had said the other day at lunch and based off what his guards had said the past year, Dudley knew that his cousin had had a tougher life than most. Knew that he was used to those close to him dying or leaving. Knew that with their history it would be hard to believe the words he spoke, but Dudley had to try and help his cousin see reason.

"Seriously?" Harry mumbled, his eyes wide in disbelief but tinged with a hope that Dudley couldn't bear to break.

"Seriously," he replied solemnly. "Hate to break it to you, cuz, but you're stuck with me now." Harry snorted and Dudley grinned, glancing at Tracey to see her gazing at him almost fondly.

"Now, Dudley," Padma cut in, looking rather annoyed at having been ignored the whole time. "You are going to need to remain on bed rest for at least the next three days. And be on a constant regiment of potions. You're body needs to rest and heal. But don't worry, you won't be all alone. Then after that, I recommend a few days of slow physical activity build up. Nothing strenuous. I'd say in a week I should be able to give you the OK to go back home."

Dudley thought this over. He was fine with staying here. He wasn't against magic, just as he had told Harry. He was almost thrilled at the chance for more time to prove to Harry that he had changed. But his parents would pitch a fit. He couldn't risk his father having another heart attack on his account.

"Padma, could you give us a moment? You, too, Tracey," Harry asked, watching his bigger cousin carefully. Tracey nodded her consent and got up to leave, but not before she gave Dudley a kind smile. Padma huffed at this about to protest, most likely spouting some Healer rules but at Harry's look she cut off her protests and left the room.

"Don't be long," was all she said before shutting the door. Dudley absorbed the new silence before looking back at Harry who hadn't stopped watching him closely.

"It's not that I'm not fine with staying here, Harry. I'm cool with it. It's just...my folks. They won't like this," Dudley admitted, suddenly glad that the women had left and it was just the two cousins. Harry understood how his folks were after all.

Harry nodded, looking rather weary all of a sudden. "Yeah. Hermione wrote to them as you, saying that you were completely fine and safe but if you want I, or someone else, could go and modify their memories to think you are on a trip with the guys? We don't have phones, or else I'd say you could call them and try to smooth things over that way." Dudley was silent thinking it over. He really didn't want to expose his parents to more magic than necessary, even if they wouldn't know it was happening. He felt dirty considering it. "Hang on!" Harry said suddenly, sitting up straight. "Give me a sec," the green-eyed man said before hurriedly limping out of the room. The dog, who had settled comfortably at his cousins feet, raised its head at the disturbance and kept its eyes trained on the now shut door. Dudley heard a whispered conversation with someone outside and then silence. It was five minutes later when Harry returned but he brought with him a dark-skinned Italian man.

Dudley raised an inquisitive eyebrow at the newcomer. The newcomer for his part didn't look uncomfortable in his presence, but merely crossed his arms in a dignified manner and leaned casually against the bedpost.

"Do explain your urgency, Potter. I was busy," the man spoke.

"Yes, yes, of course, Blaise," Harry brushed it off with a hand wave, settling back in the chair much to the happiness of the dog on the ground whose tail thumped loudly against the floor. "It's about your wizard phones. Do you have one that is up for a test?" Dudley watched the man, Blaise, straighten. His dark eyes glancing between Harry and Dudley. Dudley remained confused but he could see Blaise putting pieces together.

Slowly the man spoke. "I think I have one ready for testing, it should suit your needs. No promises though."

"Of course, please, can you grab it?" The dark Italian gave a curt nod before turning promptly and leaving the room. Dudley turned to give Harry a questioning look. "Blaise is working on making muggle technology wizard compatible. His first project has been telephones. If it works you can just call your folks and give them some excuse.

Dudley, while preferring this method, was still nervous about talking to his parents and feeding them some lie. "So, do those people all live here?" he asked, searching for a change in topic.

"Hmm? Oh yeah, they all live on this floor actually. I live on the one above this. I'll give you the tour once Padma lets you out of bed," Harry offered. Dudley just nodded.

"What's with the dog?" he asked, nodding towards the dark shadow on the floor.

"Oh, this is Patronus," Harry said. "Got him a few hours before we met for lunch."

Before Dudley could comment, Blaise returned with an odd contraption in his hand. It was black and slim but seemed to resemble a phone well enough.

"Alright, so I think Potter's going to have to do the calling. It's meant to work for wizards. Not for muggles. I don't know if you could work it. But once it starts ringing you'll be able to talk, I think," Blaise began to explain, handing the device to Harry. Harry looked at the device in his hand in confusion and then glanced back up to Blaise.

"You're going to have to tell me how to work it," he finally said bluntly.

"Right, right," Blaise said giving a jolt. "So you need your wand. Tap it and say the name of the person you want to call. That should do the trick." Harry looked nervous at Blaises uncertainty, and Dudley felt similar but stayed quiet as he watched Harry draw out his wand and tap the black device.

"Petunia Dursley," he said clearly. There was silence as the three men stared at the device in Harry's hand. After about a minute, when Harry and Dudley began to deflate, a ringing noise emanated from the device and Harry almost dropped it he was so startled.

"It's working!" Blaise cried out, punching his fists into the air.

"So far, let's see if they can hear us," Harry cautioned, handing the device to Dudley. Uncertainty, Dudley accepted it and felt its' smooth surface and surprisingly hefty weight. Feeling rather ridiculous, Dudley brought the device to his face and waited. He wasn't sure if he was hoping more for the device to work or for it to fail.

He never got to find out which he hoped more for because with an answering click, Dudley heard his mother's voice on the other end. "Hello?" she asked, primely. "Who is this?"

"Mum?" Dudley gasped.

"Dudley!" She cried out in surprise and relief. "Where are you? Are you safe?" she asked, her voice going remarkably lower. As if she had stepped into another room and was hoping no one caught her talking. "I got that letter. Are you alright? Are you...are you with...them?" she asked nervously.

Dudley wet his lips and avoided the intense looks Blaise and Harry kept trained on him. "Yeah. Yeah, mum, I'm fine. I'm safe. And yeah...I'm with Harry."

"Oh thank heavens," his mother breathed but to his shock, she sounded relieved.

"Mum?" he questioned.

There was silence on the other end. A buzzing static sound filling his ears and he wondered if his mum had even heard him. "I didn't tell your father about the letter," she said instead. "I told him you were with your friends on a camping trip. I didn't want to worry him. Not after his ordeal last year." Dudley sat frozen in shock on the bed he was confined to. His mum had lied to his dad? She knew she was around magic and wasn't freaking out? "What happened, Dudders?"

His mother's voice cut through his thoughts and he cleared his throat thinking of what to say. Finally he settled on the truth. "Umm...there was an attack in the alley. Harry fought them off and saved me. But, I got a bit hurt. Don't worry though. They've healed me up nicely."

"Are you coming home?" her worry was evident and Dudley hated to worry her.

"Yeah. Don't worry. I'll be home again. Their healer here wants me to stay another week so I can recover properly. But don't worry, I'll be home for Sunday dinner," Dudley promised and hoped that ended up being true. "Tell dad not to worry either. Tell him I'm going for some jobs in the city or something."

"Of course, of course. He'll be so proud," she replied and Dudley felt a twist of guilt in his gut. If his father really knew where Dudley was, knew that he was willingly happy with staying the week with his cousin and his 'freak' friends, his dad would probably die. But Dudley didn't say anything and neither did his mum.

"Right. Well, I'll see you in a week."

"Of course. I'll have a roast on the table for you. I love you, Dudders."

"Love you too, mum," Dudley whispered back before he heard the ending click of the phone call. Numbly he held the device out to the Blaise who took it, questions swimming in his eyes but owning enough tact to know now was not the time.

Harry looked at his cousin for a moment before speaking. "So, Aunt Petunia was...OK with it?"

Dudley slowly nodded his head. His disbelief shining in his eyes and mirrored by Harry's. "I guess a year really does change people," Harry muttered. Dudley just nodded.

"Would you be acceptable to me returning later to get your opinions on the phone?" Blaise asked, cutting in and talking in such a formal manner that Dudley almost chuckled.

Instead, he just nodded. "Yeah, I'll give you some feedback later." Blaise gave a short nod of his head before leaving the room again. Dudley turned to Harry and the two fell silent. "So I'll be here for another week it seems."

"Yeah, seems like it. You'll probably get a few curious visitors. Most of them don't know much about the Muggle world. You might have a lot to explain," Harry warned. "But don't worry. I'll be here to keep you company and help you get better again."

Dudley nodded. "That's great. Thanks. But...um...do you think...do you think Tracey would be willing….would be willing to keep me company, too?" He looked away shyly and felt his face burn, unable to bare the look of wicked glee on Harry's face.

"I'm sure she would be delighted to play nurse for you," Harry snickered. Dudley groaned and sent a glare at his cousin. "Do you want to ask her yourself?"

"Shove off, prat. Forget I said anything," Dudley said grumpily, looking down at his hands, fiddling with the top bed sheets, they were incredibly soft and far better than anything he had slept in before.

Harry cleared his throat and Dudley could tell he fought to keep the amusement out of his voice. "Sorry. But, seriously, I'm sure she would be honored to take care of you. She is an incredibly sweet-natured girl and ridiculously easy to get along with. Just, take it easy with her," Harry cautioned, Dudley glanced up and gave a serious nod. "Right, well I'll go get Padma," Harry said standing up and leaning on the cane. "And Tracey," he added with a wink.

Dudley flushed red and groaned. What had he just gotten himself into?