Chapter 2 – Dudley's Choice

After the likes of his 'family' kicking him out, Harry finds himself at a crossroad. With his life turning bad, what can prevent him from making a life changing decision?

Disclaimer – This is … not mine.

AN: This story is about family and how just being there for one another with help in Harry's future.

Harry was standing on top of a bridge, thinking: "What have I done to deserve this life?" As he looked back down, he noticed that the water was getting slower. This was the perfect opportunity. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The pain stopped but he knew that physical pain was nothing compare to the emotional pain that he had just received.

Harry pulled himself to the top of the railing, swinging his legs over and sitting on the narrow metal beam. He raised his arms but stopped just before leaning forward and sending himself plummeting to the water below.

"No!"

Harry opened his eyes, and realized that it was his cousin who had screamed. He turned his attention towards the sound and the back to the river.

"Why should I care," thought Harry. "He was one of the reason why this mess is in the first place. If he didn't … no, I shouldn't do that. I shouldn't turn my back. He is family and family should mean something to me."

With that thought, his mind pushed the pain away and lowered himself painfully to the ground. He started to limp towards the sound. As he got closer, he noticed that his cousin was seen cowering under a bigger and much wider looking person. The person looked more like a rhino than a human being.

With a renew vigor, Harry turned his attention towards the ground trying to look for something that could help him. A small pebble was the only thing he found, but he picked it up anyway and threw it at the head of the bully.

The bully turned around and noticed Harry. He glared at him but turned his attention back to Dudley. As the guy reared back for another punch, another pebble hit the side of his head, causing blood to flow down the side of his face from a small nick.

"Hey," screamed Harry. "Why don't you pick on somebody your own size?"

Dudley turned towards the sound and noticed his battered cousin standing there defiantly. He couldn't believe his eyes. His cousin was standing up for him. He shook his head and quickly turned his attention back towards the bigger man.

"And who would stop me? You?"

"If I have to, then yes."

Harry then grabbed another rock and threw it at the bully's face.

"Whoa, wait a minute kid. I saw him and his friends beating you up, so this isn't your fight. Now why would you care if something happened to him? Run along to your mummy before I get really mad and do you next."

"That's Dudley and he is my family. Family means everything to me and you should not do anything to my family."

"What," chuckled the bully. "You mean that this overgrown whale is your family? The one that beat you up? You want to protect him when he caused you harm?"

The bully turned his attention back at Dudley before hearing an answer that surprised him.

"Yes."

"What?"

Harry turned his attention towards his cousin before giving him a look. He wondered and hoped that Dudley knew what the face meant. Dudley took a moment before understanding what is happening and nodded.

Harry smiled and turned his attention back to the bully.

"I said yes!"

Dudley's expression changed to a fierce glare before he reared back and kicking the bully where the sun won't shine. He turned and found that Harry was rushing towards them at full speed before colliding with the kid, knocking them both to the ground. Dudley turned and started to run away before noticing that Harry was stuck in the grasp of the overgrown behemoth.

Dudley grabbed Harry and they both rushed the other way, back toward the bridge. As he briskly walked past, Harry fell to the ground heaving in pain. Dudley turned around and stopped before heading back to his cousin.

After a moment of peace, Dudley looked towards his cousin with newfound respect.

"Why?"

"What," asked Harry as he tried to catch his breath.

"Why did you come to save me?"

Harry looked towards his cousin before scoffing. He tried to get up but lost his balance and fell back down. Dudley grabbed him before he could hit the ground and placed him against the rail.

"Dudley, you are family. Even though we sometimes… Okay, we have n ever acted like it; I want to see my family protected."

"But …"

"There is no but, but now you've got to go home. You've got to go home before that guy comes back and tries to finish the job."

"But if I go home before you do, you might get more in trouble."

"I am not going back, Dudley. That is not my home; it's yours. My home is where my parents are right now."

"But your parents are dead?"

"Yes, I know. Now go home before your mum worries herself to death."

Dudley nodded and started to walk away, but before anything else happened, Harry heard Dudley saying something.

"Thank you."

Dudley continued to walk as Harry shook his head and gave a small smile. He climbed back up the rail before being thrown back on the ground.

"You idiot! You cannot do that! What are you thinking?"

"What?"

"I might be an idiot, but going to where your parents are? You are going to kill yourself."

"No, Dudley, I am not going to kill myself."

Dudley gave a huge sigh of relief.

"I am already dead."

Dudley eyes turned towards Harry before grabbing him into a hug.

"Please Harry. Don't do this. You saved me. Now let me have a chance to save you?"

"I can't. Your dad already kicked me out. I cannot go back."

"Leave him to me."

Harry pushed Dudley off him before turning his attention back to the railing.

"Dudley, don't worry about me. I am already dead."

"You cannot talk like that. If you don't listen to me, I am going to…"

Before Dudley finished, he grabbed a hold of Harry, throwing him over his shoulder, and rushed towards his home. Dudley couldn't believe his ears. He traveled across the street with cars zooming by and ran past his friends who were sitting down playing jacks. He didn't care about anything around him; he just knew that he wanted his cousin to be safe. Before he knew it and without air in his lungs, he dropped down and onto the grassy lawn in front of his house.

The door opened and Dudley's parents eyed Dudley with concern, though they looked ready to kick Harry to the curb again. While Petunia was tending to Dudley, Vernon turned with rage toward Harry.

"What did you do to my son" screamed Vernon.

Harry looked toward his beefy uncle not understanding what was going to happened. As Dudley look on trying to catch his breath, Vernon closed the gap between him and Harry.

"I am talking to you, boy!"

"Stop!"

Vernon turned his attention back to his son and saw that Dudley was walking past his wife tending care and towards them.

"Dudley? Please, let your mum take care of you while I take care of this disgusting freak."

Dudley shook his head before standing in front of Harry, protecting him from his father's rage. He covered Harry with his body before looking towards his father with a determination that was never seen on his face before.

"If you want to attack someone, attack me."

"What," screeched Petunia.

"If you want to punch him," stated Dudley as he turned towards Harry. "Attack me because he is family and I protect family!"

Vernon and Petunia turned to see that Dudley was protecting Harry like an older brother would.

"What?" asked Vernon.

"I said," stated Dudley. "Harry is family and no matter what happens, I will protect him, just like he will protect me."

"How can he protect you," asked Vernon, looking decidedly confused

"It doesn't matter," screamed Dudley. "Harry and I know that we are family and you will not hurt him ever again."

Vernon looked towards his son, his surprise at being stood up to warring with pride that the lad would dare to do it. Then, however, his eyes fell on Harry's scar and narrowed.

"You, boy! You did something to him! Your freakiness …"

"Dad! He didn't do anything. We had a talk and we both understand each other now. I think that he needs to lie down. He's had a horrible day, thanks to me, so I think that he should head on home."

Dudley and Harry looked at one another before nodding. Dudley took Harry's arm and guided him into the house. Petunia looked on with pride before looking at Vernon.

"I think," said Vernon. "That our son is finally growing up?"

"Yes, I believe so."

"What brought this on?"

"I don't know Vernon, I don't know, but what he said makes you think. Family is family no matter what and we should protect our family. How did he get so smart?"

"I don't know but he is right, family is family and I will protect my family. I think the boy … I mean Harry deserves to be part of this family and should be welcome in life one."

The two nodded to one another before looking into the house. In there, Dudley had placed Harry on the couch and was tending to him. The scene brought a smile towards the parents' face before they made their way into the house and towards Harry knowing for once that the four of them can and will be a family.

No matter what.