That Summer was spent visiting the Potters frequently. They had dinner each Friday, alternating hosting duties between Ginny and Anita, and had even joined the Weasley family for one of their famous Sunday luncheons. This one, Hermione promised, would be quite the event since it was to celebrate Harry's birthday. The sea of red heads almost had Dudley turning the car around, but Daisy's begging had him agreeing to walk into the throng.

The strangest thing for Dudley and Anita was what Harry had told them were "Muggle-repelling wards". The Burrow, according to the sign, had appeared to be a small, dilapidated farmhouse from the road. Dudley had commented on its abandoned appearance whilst Daisy had laughed and said she thought the tall building was wonderful. She and Poppy had bickered back and forth over the size of the house whilst Dudley felt himself feel more and more ill as he pulled closer. It wasn't until he crossed through the open gate that the feeling of dread eased up and he could see the tall house Daisy had seen.

There was much more to magic than his parents had ever said. Dudley had long ago come to the realization that, despite his mother's proximity to a witch growing up, she had shut her eyes, and ears, to all information regarding the wizarding world.

Petunia had nearly fainted when Daisy announced that she was going to Hogwarts over dinner.

"Grandmama! You'll never believe it, but I'm going to be a Legacy!"

"Mayfield? Oh that's wonderful, darling!" Petunia had said, smiling brilliantly at her granddaughter.

"No! I'm going to Cousin Harry's and Great-Aunt Lily's school!"

Petunia's eyes had grown wide and she fainted, knocking over a tray of mini gherkins in the process.

Dudley had scooped his mother up and placed her on a bench in the solarium in back of the house. She woke up confused, but then her eyes widened again and she opened her mouth to speak.

"No," Dudley had said, his tone brooking no argument. "My little girl is magic. Something in the genes from you, apparently. I will not make her feel like a freak, and neither will her grandmother. You are going to be excited, you are going to be supportive, and you are not going to look at her like you did him."

Petunia had closed her mouth with snap and nodded, still looking a bit in shock. Dudley didn't blame her for that, he was still in shock himself. After three visits with Harry, however, he was less frightened of the magical world than he had been. The things they could do were bizarre, but they were also wonderful, not that Dudley would admit that to Harry.

Petunia had then walked into the kitchen and began preparing dinner and asking Daisy about her new education plans.

To her credit, she only winced a few times.

Now, Dudley found himself wincing at the thought of entering this magical gathering of what looked to be dozens of gingers.

~D~D~D~D~D~D~

"DAISY! POPPY!" Harry's little girl, Lily, ran out to greet them and drag the girls off to the back garden where Dudley could see some of the older children tossing a red ball - Keffle, he thought - to one another while riding their brooms.

"Only ride the trainer one, Daisy!" Anita yelled after them. It was strange that this was their new normal, Dudley thought. He never imagined his little girls on broomsticks, nevermind that the trainer broom couldn't go more than six feet high. It was unbelievable.

"You must be Dudley," a pleasantly plump woman, her own red locks shot through with silver, came to greet them as he and Anita walked in the door. "I'm Molly Weasley. You'll meet the rest of the brood, and don't worry about remembering all the names on your first day, but I just wanted to see if you'd be alright with cottage pies?"

"That would be lovely, Molly. I'm Anita."

With his wife handling pleasantries with the hostess, Dudley made his way through the throng to find Harry. Luckily, his cousin's black locks stood out like a sore thumb amongst the red and blondes.

"Duds! You made it!" Harry clapped him on the back and began the introductions.

There seemed to be a shocking ratio of men to women in the Weasley family, including a man Dudley could only describe as political and a bit more proper than the rest, a longer haired burly brother who looked like a cage fighter, and an almost feral looking man with terrible scars who had managed to marry the most shockingly beautiful woman Dudley had ever seen. He was drawn to her like he'd never been drawn to anyone before. He had to spend more time with her. See her. Touch her.

"Dudley!" Ginny shouted, breaking his pursuit of the Frenchwoman. Dudley looked at his cousin-in-law, befuddled.

"She's part Veela. You'll get used to it, just keep your wife from seeing your reaction, eh?" She laughed.

Dudley shook his head, trying to focus on Anita and his girls, whom he loved very, very much. He made it a point to avoid looking in the blonde woman's direction. He was quite happy in his marriage and wasn't going to let some Frenchie voodoo magic ruin that.

~D~D~D~D~D~D~

The cake hovered over a silver tray, a big gold ball with silvery wings sticking out that Dudley recognized from the family quidditch games. A stitch, he believed.

"Now, blow out the candles, dear!" Mrs. Weasley instructed, once the birthday song was complete.

"Best if you step back a bit, mate. You're in for a treat," promised one of the brothers, the one with an ear missing. Harry had warned him about this brother in particular, reminding Dudley for an unfortunate encounter with a bit of toffee. Dudley stumbled backward quickly, his eyes never leaving the cake.

With a quick puff, Harry blew out the candles, which sent the golden cake whizzing off like a real stitch, higher and higher before bursting into pieces.

Mrs. Weasley's roar of "GEORGE!" was cut short as plates magically appeared in front of all of the guests with pieces falling neatly upon them.

All except one.

"Well played, George," chuckled Harry, attempting to wipe the buttercream from his glasses. Bits of sponge cake dropped from his hair, which was now a mess of white and gold.

"Thinking 'bout opening a patisserie now that the candy line is set. Give ol' Priscilla's Pasties a run for their money." The one-eared brother looked both proud and mischievous. Dudley had seen a similar look on his eldest daughter's face in recent weeks and was, he believed, rightfully concerned.

"Right then," said Mrs. Weasley, walking over with Anita in tow. "About our visit to the Alley next week…"

A/N: Thank you, so much, to everyone who has shown interest in this story, especially Clare, whose motivation is wonderful and name is perfection. I'm going to continue to follow the Tumblr post as closely as I can, but may add more points of view than just Dudley. Is there anyone you would like to hear from?As always, feedback and reviews are my greatest motivators. I am not using a beta, so if you notice something wrong in my grammar or spelling, shoot me a PM and I'll set it straight.Thanks! ~Pooka