Chapter 2: The Nightmare

Darkness shrouded Dudley as he looked around, confused and scared. The bitter cold licked his body, causing goosebumps to rise on his skin. It was like he was experiencing the attack all over again. Except Dudley was alone; he didn't have his cousin to keep him company, which was strange considering he hated his cousin. Then he saw it; a ball of light penetrated the darkness like a sword. Dudley immediately felt the warmth coming from the light, a contrast to the cold the darkness gave. Dudley started to run toward the light, wanting to escape the darkness.

But as he got closer, the light started to get engulfed in darkness. Dudley stopped dead in his tracks as he saw the once ball of light change into a tall, hooded figure. He watched in horror as the creature floated toward him, stretching its grayish, slimy hand. Dudley, paralyzed with fear, could only watch as the thing grew closer and closer to him. Suddenly, he saw a memory of his parents giving him sweets and toys while Harry had nothing. Harry didn't protest, but Dudley saw the hurt and jealousy in his green eyes. The creature grabbed Dudley's neck; he struggled, but it did not let go. Terror filled him as the creature slowly pulled back its hood, revealing its eyeless face and large gaping hole where the mouth should be. The creature bent its head to Dudley's mouth as though to give him a kiss...

Dudley's forehead glistened with sweat as his eyes snapped open, panting. He sat up in his bed and the bed groaned in protest as he did.

"All right, Dudley," Dudley told himself. "It's just a nightmare. Get over it."

But he couldn't get over it no matter how much he tried. It had been four days since those creatures - Dementors, Harry called them - attacked Dudley and Harry. Ever since then, he had nightmares about those things. But this nightmare was different; it felt too real to be an ordinary nightmare.

Dudley sighed and got out of bed. Maybe getting a drink of water will calm me down, he thought, walking out of his bedroom. He walked down the stairs, wincing as one of the steps creaked under his weight. He didn't want to wake up his parents, especially his mother, who wouldn't stop checking on him since the attack.

When he got to the bottom of the stairs, Dudley was surprised to see light under the closed kitchen door. He walked to the door as quietly as possible and pressed an ear to the keyhole. He heard the voices of his parents muttering excitedly to each other.

"...we won," his father was saying proudly. "See, Petunia, they recognize a proper garden when they see one."

"Yes," said his mother. "We have to wake up Dudley."

The doorknob jiggled and Dudley took a step back. His father, a large man with a bushy black mustache, opened the door.

"Dudley," Vernon said, surprised. "Why are you up?"

His mother, a bony woman with a long neck, looked at her son worryingly. "Is everything all right, darling?"

"I'm fine," Dudley replied quickly. "I just wanted a glass of water."

"You didn't have any nightmares, did you?" Petunia asked in concern. They knew about his nightmares. How could his parents not known about them, especially when his mother had a habit of treating him like a baby? His mother rushed forward and gave Dudley a hug.

"Of course, he didn't," said Vernon gruffly. "He's a tough man just like his father."

Dudley nodded. He was a strong man; he wasn't afraid of stupid invisible creatures. Harry probably made them up to get himself out of trouble for what he did to him.

"What did we win?" he asked curiously.

"The All-England Best-Kept Suburban Lawn Competition!" Vernon waved a letter in his hand. "We're going out to get the prize! So, get dressed!"

Dudley turned and walk back to his room, frowning. The All-England Best-Kept Suburban Lawn Competition? He'd never heard of such a thing. It's probably a secret competition that choose winners randomly, Dudley thought.

When the Dursleys were dressed in their best clothes, Vernon had to make sure the boy stayed in his room. For some reason, Dudley found this unnerving. As he and his mother waited for Vernon, Dudley looked at the cupboard. Suddenly, a vision of the creature in his nightmare briefly flashed in his mind before a memory came forth.

His father, red-faced and angry, locked Harry in the cupboard for getting on the school chimney. Harry yelled that he didn't know how he'd gotten on the school chimney, but Vernon wouldn't hear of it...

Dudley shivered and shook his head. He shouldn't be feeling unnerved over something that happened a long time ago.

His father was back.

"Let's go."

The family walked out of the house, got into the car, and drove off. As they drove, Dudley looked out of the window, thinking. What if Harry really didn't make those Dementor creatures up and saved him as he claimed to have done?

"And if they get the chance, they'll kiss you."

"It's what they call it when they suck the soul out of your mouth."

Dudley recalled the events in his nightmare, and a chill went down Dudley's spine. If what Harry said was true, then he didn't just saved his life. He saved his soul.

"We should be here by now," said Vernon, breaking Dudley's thought.

"I think this is the place," said Petunia, pointing at a house.

Vernon parked the car. The Dursleys looked at the house in bewilderment. The house looked abandoned with boards nailed to the broken windows, the lawn was filled with overgrown grass and weeds, and the once brown paint was chipping away.

They continued to stare in disbelief at the house for a few minutes. Then Vernon exploded.

"THAT BOY! WE'VE BEEN TRICKED BY THAT FREAK!"

He started the car and drove off, grumbling and swearing all the way. Petunia said nothing; her lips was a thin line, making her look like she sucked a lemon. Dudley, however, couldn't help doubting his father. Harry was in his room the whole time avoiding the family, so it couldn't have been him.

Why am I defending the freak? Dudley wondered.

When they got home, Vernon stormed Harry's room, shouting. "BOY, YOU BETTER EXPLAIN YOURSELF OR YOU'RE GOING TO WISH YOU WERE NEVER BORN!"

Then Dudley's father called down from the stairs. "He's not in his room!"

Petunia spotted a letter on the table. She picked it up and read it. "Vernon! They have taken the boy!"

Dudley frowned as Vernon came down the stairs and read the letter. They should have known those unnatural lot had something to do with the fake competition. He went to his room while his father yelled. He took off his clothes, put on his pajamas, and went into bed. Dudley didn't even care at the moment; he was too exhausted from tonight's events to care.

A/N: I would not use the creature as often as I did in the original (when it was just a voice). It will just appear from time to time.