Dudley Dursley and the Golden Eye
By: SleepyAngel
7: Sirius' House
"Hungry for anything?" Sirius asked, leading Dudley inside at last, when they'd
finally lost sight of Aunt Lily over the orange water.
Dudley shook his head, mesmerized by Sirius' home. Dudley had been taking for
granted the niceties that went along with being in a wizarding family, and now he found
himself in the most primitive home he'd even set foot in, even more barren then most
Muggle houses from what he'd seen from Mr. Weasley's book he was compiling: Muggles: a
fascinating look into a Muggle's life. In Sirius' home, the walls were dark, the lamps
low-light, and about two other rooms were distinguishable from the open, kitchen-front
hall set-up. No windows shed any light into the place, which was barren of most wizarding
things, or even ordinary Muggle conveniences.
Sirius was helping himself to a big sandwich, wolfing it in an animalistic way. He
looked up, wiping a hand across his mouth, his eyes telling embarrassment. "I'm not used
to company. Excuse my manners." He gulped down the bit of food that was mushing in his
mouth through those words, and continued, "I was so nervous before you arrived, scared
something would happen to you."
Dudley shrugged and clutched his bag tight. "Nothing has happened."
Sirius smiled out of the corner of his mouth, as if it were a good thing. If he was
the one without any apparent magical powers, he might not be so assured. "Well, should I
show you your room, then?" Dudley tried to smile back, barely in control of his body as he
followed Sirius. What were they going to do with him once they found that he had no
magical talent in him? He tried to remind himself that Sirius and his aunt and uncle thought
he had potential. The assurances did little however; his mind was still a sick cycle of
worry.
Sirius turned as he entered one of the rooms Dudley had noted earlier. His arms
spread, taking in the room.
"Here you are!" A forced smile was on Sirius' face when he showed the room and
Dudley stared, unused to seeing Sirius' smile not being geniune. The smile had always
been a comfort to him before, a reassurance that everything was okay enough to joke
about things. If even Sirius wouldn't smile from his heart, something was definately wrong.
Sirius noticed Dudley's excessive staring, but didn't release the smile or offer an
explanation. Dudley didn't say or do anything, rooted to his spot as if the smile had frozen
him. Sirius finally spoke, soothingly, like he was coaxing a testy hippogriff.
"It's okay, Dudley. Just come in," Sirius said, sitting on one corner of the bed. He
had kept smile and Dudley had forced his feet to walk in. The room was as bare as the rest
of the house; only a bed, desk, and lamp occupied it. Dudley found a corner close to Sirius
and he plopped himself on it. He regretted this when his behind realized that this wasn't
the type of mattress you could sink into; it was just a little too firm. Dudley dropped his
suitcase on the floor and faced Harry's godfather.
"So," Sirius started when he saw Dudley was relatively settled, "What did James
and Lily tell you about you're staying with me?"
"Well, they said it had to do with eyes," Dudley said slowly, glad to see Sirius
nodding. Sirius' dark eyes hung onto Dudley's, very interested in the answer. Dudley
wasn't accustomed to this undivided attention, but he decided he liked it and continued,
feeling stronger and braver with no Harry to interrupt. "I have blue eyes like Dumbledore,
so you're gonna teach me how to be a wizard, even..." He stopped, not wanting to express
any concern about his obvious lack of magical ability. He let the sentence dangle and went
on, "Um, and Aunt Lily said stuff about V-Voldemort wanting her because of her eyes and
that since Voldemort was defeated by Dumbledore who had different eyes, that he then
wanted me..."
Sirius nodded again and sighed. "Well, we thought that we should teach you some
things, then. If Voldemort wants you-wanted you, I mean,-then you should learn some
things."
He sighed. "The Squib last time, that last time I mentioned in my letter?" Dudley
nodded, remembering the mention of some Squib who was not taught. "Well, that wizard
became the greatest Auror we had; Frank Longbottom. No one had thought much about
his life before he became an Auror. Yes, he was a great wizard, powerful and smart. But
he never was properly trained. His early education was neglected because he just didn't
show the proper signals that he was to be a wizard. So, he was labeled a Squib. Well,
before he married, he had landed a job as an Auror, to protect against Voldemort's rise to
power. He had the bravery, raw skill. But this "rawness" was an advantage for
Voldemort."
Sirius stared at the ceiling, while Dudley's eyes remained glued to the floor as he
listened to the story. "Frank never could completely control his power; his emotions often
got in the way." Sirius pressed his lips together, caging the sentences. "Voldemort...he
killed the future Mrs. Longbottom, knowing the effect this would have on Frank. Remus
really tried to reason with him, followed him, trying to get him to not approach Voldemort
now, at his peak." Sirius shook his head and sucked in tears, Dudley guessed, though he
was unsuccessful with one of them as it trickled down his face. He saw Dudley had
noticed this and wiped his eyes, fighting to smile. "I haven't-I haven't talked this out loud
before, not really. I mean," His shiny eyes looked up into the light again, "Maybe
discussed it, no details, to Lily and James, but...."
Dudley, not knowing what else to do, scooted closer to Sirius and rested a hand on
his shoulder. Dudley could tell Sirius wasn't the physical type, but everyone appreciated a
little contact once in a while. Sirius nodded thankfully and his eyes were clearer. "Thank
you. Um," he paused to think where he was and Dudley listened faithfully, hoping this was
helping Sirius more than paining him.
"Do you want to talk about it...later?" Dudley asked, hoping he didn't sound like
he didn't want to listen. He really did. He'd never heard this story before and he had a
feeling he knew why. Sirius had mentioned Remus, something that always brought shiny
eyes and big inhaled breaths at the Potter's. Dudley understood that something horrible
had happened, and it didn't seem fair to force Sirius into the telling within half an hour of
Dudley's arrival. He no doubt brought memories of something.
"T-thanks." Sirius smiled, geniunely this time and Dudley felt himself smile back.
"I'll take that sandwich now," Dudley said, at first for conversation sake, then he
realized he really was hungry, too nervous to think about it before.
"Sure," Sirius replied and they left the barren room in search of food. Dudley
vaguely wondered if he would be able to eat as much as he wanted, unlike at home. The
Potter's weren't the biggest eaters, and Dudley often found himself feeling a little greedy
for wanting more.
Sirius opened the fridge to reveal a wide selection of snacks, lunches, and dinners.
His smile was contagious, and for the first time, Dudley felt like he wasn't out of the circle,
but right in the middle of it. "Eat all you want. I can always get more."
Dudley kept smiling even as he chewed through his second sandwich. He suddenly
wasn't worrying about his magical ability, or lack of. Sirius had returned to his normal
jacund self, telling Dudley of some inside, secret exploits of Uncle James, Remus, Peter,
and himself in their Hogwarts days. The hilarious anecdotes washed over Dudley like a
warm bath, and he laughed, a big belly laugh that he had never before let loose fully. For
once, he wasn't intruding on some one else's life, but enjoying the wizarding life and
stories as if they would soon be his own.
Sirius smiled as Dudley watched an idea form behind the dark eyes. "Would you
like to visit Hogwarts and Harry?"
Dudley felt his own eyes light up, feeling slightly rebellious when he nodded
eagerly. He knew it was pretty stupid to feel brave about visiting a school, but considering
he wasn't to attend, it would no doubt be an adventure with Sirius.
Sirius laughed. "Go get your wand. We'll have some fun."
Dudley believed him and scampered to find the wand, the gift of the owl.
By: SleepyAngel
7: Sirius' House
"Hungry for anything?" Sirius asked, leading Dudley inside at last, when they'd
finally lost sight of Aunt Lily over the orange water.
Dudley shook his head, mesmerized by Sirius' home. Dudley had been taking for
granted the niceties that went along with being in a wizarding family, and now he found
himself in the most primitive home he'd even set foot in, even more barren then most
Muggle houses from what he'd seen from Mr. Weasley's book he was compiling: Muggles: a
fascinating look into a Muggle's life. In Sirius' home, the walls were dark, the lamps
low-light, and about two other rooms were distinguishable from the open, kitchen-front
hall set-up. No windows shed any light into the place, which was barren of most wizarding
things, or even ordinary Muggle conveniences.
Sirius was helping himself to a big sandwich, wolfing it in an animalistic way. He
looked up, wiping a hand across his mouth, his eyes telling embarrassment. "I'm not used
to company. Excuse my manners." He gulped down the bit of food that was mushing in his
mouth through those words, and continued, "I was so nervous before you arrived, scared
something would happen to you."
Dudley shrugged and clutched his bag tight. "Nothing has happened."
Sirius smiled out of the corner of his mouth, as if it were a good thing. If he was
the one without any apparent magical powers, he might not be so assured. "Well, should I
show you your room, then?" Dudley tried to smile back, barely in control of his body as he
followed Sirius. What were they going to do with him once they found that he had no
magical talent in him? He tried to remind himself that Sirius and his aunt and uncle thought
he had potential. The assurances did little however; his mind was still a sick cycle of
worry.
Sirius turned as he entered one of the rooms Dudley had noted earlier. His arms
spread, taking in the room.
"Here you are!" A forced smile was on Sirius' face when he showed the room and
Dudley stared, unused to seeing Sirius' smile not being geniune. The smile had always
been a comfort to him before, a reassurance that everything was okay enough to joke
about things. If even Sirius wouldn't smile from his heart, something was definately wrong.
Sirius noticed Dudley's excessive staring, but didn't release the smile or offer an
explanation. Dudley didn't say or do anything, rooted to his spot as if the smile had frozen
him. Sirius finally spoke, soothingly, like he was coaxing a testy hippogriff.
"It's okay, Dudley. Just come in," Sirius said, sitting on one corner of the bed. He
had kept smile and Dudley had forced his feet to walk in. The room was as bare as the rest
of the house; only a bed, desk, and lamp occupied it. Dudley found a corner close to Sirius
and he plopped himself on it. He regretted this when his behind realized that this wasn't
the type of mattress you could sink into; it was just a little too firm. Dudley dropped his
suitcase on the floor and faced Harry's godfather.
"So," Sirius started when he saw Dudley was relatively settled, "What did James
and Lily tell you about you're staying with me?"
"Well, they said it had to do with eyes," Dudley said slowly, glad to see Sirius
nodding. Sirius' dark eyes hung onto Dudley's, very interested in the answer. Dudley
wasn't accustomed to this undivided attention, but he decided he liked it and continued,
feeling stronger and braver with no Harry to interrupt. "I have blue eyes like Dumbledore,
so you're gonna teach me how to be a wizard, even..." He stopped, not wanting to express
any concern about his obvious lack of magical ability. He let the sentence dangle and went
on, "Um, and Aunt Lily said stuff about V-Voldemort wanting her because of her eyes and
that since Voldemort was defeated by Dumbledore who had different eyes, that he then
wanted me..."
Sirius nodded again and sighed. "Well, we thought that we should teach you some
things, then. If Voldemort wants you-wanted you, I mean,-then you should learn some
things."
He sighed. "The Squib last time, that last time I mentioned in my letter?" Dudley
nodded, remembering the mention of some Squib who was not taught. "Well, that wizard
became the greatest Auror we had; Frank Longbottom. No one had thought much about
his life before he became an Auror. Yes, he was a great wizard, powerful and smart. But
he never was properly trained. His early education was neglected because he just didn't
show the proper signals that he was to be a wizard. So, he was labeled a Squib. Well,
before he married, he had landed a job as an Auror, to protect against Voldemort's rise to
power. He had the bravery, raw skill. But this "rawness" was an advantage for
Voldemort."
Sirius stared at the ceiling, while Dudley's eyes remained glued to the floor as he
listened to the story. "Frank never could completely control his power; his emotions often
got in the way." Sirius pressed his lips together, caging the sentences. "Voldemort...he
killed the future Mrs. Longbottom, knowing the effect this would have on Frank. Remus
really tried to reason with him, followed him, trying to get him to not approach Voldemort
now, at his peak." Sirius shook his head and sucked in tears, Dudley guessed, though he
was unsuccessful with one of them as it trickled down his face. He saw Dudley had
noticed this and wiped his eyes, fighting to smile. "I haven't-I haven't talked this out loud
before, not really. I mean," His shiny eyes looked up into the light again, "Maybe
discussed it, no details, to Lily and James, but...."
Dudley, not knowing what else to do, scooted closer to Sirius and rested a hand on
his shoulder. Dudley could tell Sirius wasn't the physical type, but everyone appreciated a
little contact once in a while. Sirius nodded thankfully and his eyes were clearer. "Thank
you. Um," he paused to think where he was and Dudley listened faithfully, hoping this was
helping Sirius more than paining him.
"Do you want to talk about it...later?" Dudley asked, hoping he didn't sound like
he didn't want to listen. He really did. He'd never heard this story before and he had a
feeling he knew why. Sirius had mentioned Remus, something that always brought shiny
eyes and big inhaled breaths at the Potter's. Dudley understood that something horrible
had happened, and it didn't seem fair to force Sirius into the telling within half an hour of
Dudley's arrival. He no doubt brought memories of something.
"T-thanks." Sirius smiled, geniunely this time and Dudley felt himself smile back.
"I'll take that sandwich now," Dudley said, at first for conversation sake, then he
realized he really was hungry, too nervous to think about it before.
"Sure," Sirius replied and they left the barren room in search of food. Dudley
vaguely wondered if he would be able to eat as much as he wanted, unlike at home. The
Potter's weren't the biggest eaters, and Dudley often found himself feeling a little greedy
for wanting more.
Sirius opened the fridge to reveal a wide selection of snacks, lunches, and dinners.
His smile was contagious, and for the first time, Dudley felt like he wasn't out of the circle,
but right in the middle of it. "Eat all you want. I can always get more."
Dudley kept smiling even as he chewed through his second sandwich. He suddenly
wasn't worrying about his magical ability, or lack of. Sirius had returned to his normal
jacund self, telling Dudley of some inside, secret exploits of Uncle James, Remus, Peter,
and himself in their Hogwarts days. The hilarious anecdotes washed over Dudley like a
warm bath, and he laughed, a big belly laugh that he had never before let loose fully. For
once, he wasn't intruding on some one else's life, but enjoying the wizarding life and
stories as if they would soon be his own.
Sirius smiled as Dudley watched an idea form behind the dark eyes. "Would you
like to visit Hogwarts and Harry?"
Dudley felt his own eyes light up, feeling slightly rebellious when he nodded
eagerly. He knew it was pretty stupid to feel brave about visiting a school, but considering
he wasn't to attend, it would no doubt be an adventure with Sirius.
Sirius laughed. "Go get your wand. We'll have some fun."
Dudley believed him and scampered to find the wand, the gift of the owl.