Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own Harry Potter. It belongs to the respectful author, J.K. Rowling.
Chapter 5: Back to Smeltings
"Duddikins, wake up. You have to get ready for school."
His mother's honey-dripped voice awoke him. Dudley slowly sat up in his bed and sighed. It was already September; summer had came and went like lightning. And honestly, Dudley was glad. He didn't have to look at the cupboard and feel that awful feeling for a year.
His mother's soft knocking came again.
"Dudley, are you up?"
"Yeah," he replied, getting out of bed. The bed groaned in relief as he removed his weight from it. "I'm up."
His things was already packed in his bag. The Dursleys were organized after all. Dudley opened his door and walked to the bathroom. He quickly showered and dressed in his Smeltings uniform (even he thought the uniform was ghastly), and grabbed his Smeltings stick. He went downstairs and the smell of breakfast came to his nose. Dudley's father was already sitting in his chair, reading the newspaper. When he heard Dudley walking down the stairs, Vernon looked up from his newspaper and smiled.
"Ready for another school year, son?" he said proudly.
Dudley nodded as he walked inside the kitchen. "Yes, Dad." He sat down in his chair.
Petunia put Dudley's plate of eggs and bacon. She kissed his forehead. "Oh my little Duddydums," she said tearfully. "Already in his 5th year at Smeltings. You grow up so fast!"
"Mum," said Dudley, embarrassed. He hated it when his mother called him those ridiculous pet names. He thanked God no one had heard his mother call him those names. Dudley made a mental note to talk to his mother about them later.
After the Dursleys ate breakfast, they got Dudley's things and went into the car. During the journey, Dudley thought about what he was going to do at Smeltings. Piers, Malcolm, Gordon, and Dennis had cut all ties with Dudley, leaving him alone for the rest of the summer. Dudley wasn't sure how he felt about that. On one hand, he was glad they left him alone; he didn't want to face them again. But on the other hand, he missed hanging with the gang. He stopped hoping his former friends would come around and forgive him; they never will.
But Dudley couldn't avoid them now that he was going back to Smelting. Maybe he'll somehow manage to go on with school not having to confront them? He shook his head. Who was he kidding? When Dudley was the leader of the gang, Gordon was the most vicious one, second only to Dudley. Sooner or later, he'll have to confront his former friends once and for all.
When they arrived at the school, the Dursleys got out of the car. Vernon got Dudley's bag out of the trunk, and handed it to him.
Vernon smiled. "Have a good year, Dudley."
Dudley took his bag out of his father's hand. "Thanks, Dad."
Vernon nodded and went back inside the car.
His mother walked up to Dudley, sniffling. "I'm going to miss you, darling." She hugged him and wept softly.
Dudley resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He hoped no one noticed his mother hugging him and weeping like it was the last time she'll ever see him again. Petunia let go, and giving Dudley a loving look one last time, followed her husband back in the car, and they drove off.
Dudley sighed and looked at Smeltings. The red-bricked boarding school was as big as a castle, but it wasn't grand. It was just as dull as any school building, boarding school or not. There were kids streaming inside the school, and some were lurking outside the building, not wanting to go in yet. As Dudley walked to the school, he looked around to see if his former friends were there; thankfully, they weren't. When the students walked inside, the teachers had directed the upper students to sit down at the table while the first years were given keys to their dormitories.
As the first year ceremony came to a close and the food came, Dudley finally saw one of the gang member, Piers, sitting a few feet away from him. Dudley frowned.
Why is Piers by himself? Dudley wondered. Shouldn't he be with the rest of the gang? Maybe Piers had a fight with them, Dudley thought. No, that couldn't be it. Perhaps he just wanted to be alone for whatever reason.
Letting his curiosity of Piers go, Dudley piled his plate with healthy food (he was still on the diet) and started eating. As he ate, he felt eyes burning holes at the back of his head, and he turned around to see Gordon glaring at him. He was with Malcolm and Dennis, who looked at him with respect in their eyes.
Not one to back down, Dudley glared back. It was a staring contest between the two. Finally, Gordon dropped his gaze and returned to his meal. Dudley smirked; as much as he missed the gang, he wouldn't let them intimidate him like that. After the feast, the students went to their dormitories (separated by gender and year) and got into bed. Gordon, Malcolm, and Dennis were in different dormitories, so Dudley did not have to deal with them at night. However, he and Piers shared dormitories with another boy Dudley had never seen before. But surprisingly, Piers did not acknowledge Dudley.
Piers quickly got into his pajamas and went into bed. His rat-like face was facing the wall, deliberately avoiding eye contact with Dudley. Dudley shook his head and climbed into his bed that was top of Piers' bed.
Whatever's up with Piers, Dudley thought, closing his eyes, it probably has nothing to do with me. Little did he know, Piers' reasoning had something to do with him.
A/N: I'm gonna put this out there: this isn't a Piers/Dudley slash. I have nothing against it. I just don't want people to mistake it as such. Reviews are greatly appreciated be it constructive criticism or praise!