Disclaimer: The Harry potter series belongs to J. K. Rowling. The only profit I gain from this story is the enjoyment and experience of writing it.

-Chapter 6: Finally There -

Hoping that they would go away, he didn't look up from his book. Until who ever opened the door spoke.

"Is it alright if we sit in here?"

Looking up he saw a girl with dark red hair and bright green eyes. Behind her stood a boy with black hair and dark eyes. He sighed and nodded. "Go ahead."

Both of them took the seats across from him. "I am Lily Evans and this is Severus Snape."

He was able to keep the surprise off his face but it was very hard. "I am Damon Drake." He muttered. I never thought that I would meet her...well at least not when I was alive anyway."

"Didn't think that they would allow students to have bleached hair in Hogwarts." Sneered Snape with obvious distaste.

Dudley frowned and sent a smoldering glare at him. "It's not bleached! It's my natural hair colour." He growled through gritted teeth.

"O.." Snape said taken aback by the response.

Lily had frowned at Snape's rudeness but hadn't said anything. She noticed his book and quickly changed the subject. "You interested in potions?"

Dudley was tempted to just ignore the question so that they would leave him alone. But the possibility of getting to know his Aunt even a little bit was too good to pass up. "Yeah.. It's the only class that makes the most sense to me. What class are you excited about?"

"All them, what about you severus?" She said turning to Snape.

"Potions mainly though they all look interesting." Snape said still frowning at Dudley. "Were you muggle raised?" He asked.

"I thought that didn't matter?" Said Lily.

"It doesn't! I am just curious." Said Snape quickly reassuring Lily. Both of them looked over at him to see if he was offended by the question.

But he didn't even notice their look, he was currently staring out the window with a thoughtfully. "He, himself was non-magically raise. To the point where the word magic would have been considered a swear word in their household. Damon Drake on the other hand would have been magically raised, right? Because his family had been known as a pure-blooded family. But the problem was that he know far more about the non-magical world than a pure-blooded wizard or witch should know. So what was the easiest explanation that no one would doubt?"

"I grow up knowing that I was a.. wizard. But I played alot with m-muggle kids, because there weren't any other magical families in the area…" He said and then tailed off at the end since he didn't know what else to say. Unable to look at his Aunt due to just lying to her face, he looked intently at his hands as he fiddled with his book.

"That's not a bad thing." Said Lily thinking that he was embarrassed for not having any magical friends. "Me and Severus have only been friends for a year or so. And my parents and my sister are muggles." She continued with a reassuring smile.

Her smile was infectious because Dudley quickly found himself smiling back at her. Snape didn't seem so pleased with this new friendship but he didn't look to upset either, which Dudley took as a good sign. Dudley ended up asking questions about Hogwarts to get the focus off of himself. This turn out to be a good strategy because it made the other two much more talkative. After that conversation ended Dudley turned his attention back to his book and Lily and Snape talked among themselves for a while. A lady with a trolley covered with candy stopped by but none of them bought anything. Lily said she wanted to save her pocket money, but neither he or Snape made any excuse. The rest off the trip was uneventful though he had to keep reminding himself not to try to get close since it would be then be harder to avoid her later on.

When the train came to a stop, he was ready to get off. Having been warned by an older student, he and Lily had changed into their robes a little bit before. Stepping off the train he heard a loud gruff voice bellow.

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!"

He quickly located the man as he towered over the students. He remembered the man from when he had picked up Harry. And with this memoir fresh in his mind he made sure that there were several other first students years between the two of them. "Hagrid is his name, I think. And he has a job at Hogwarts which is obvious." Dudley thought absentmindedly.

They followed Hagrid down a steep narrow path to the shore of a lake where a fleet of boats were waiting for them. Dudley ended up in the same boat as Lily and Snape as well as one other kid. No one spoke after Hagrid shouted for the boat to take off, everyone was staring up at the huge castle standing tall above them. Even he was enchanted at it's proud beauty. As they near a hole in the cliff, Hagrid hollered for them to duck as they passed through, they reached a harbor after floating through some tunnels. The harbor was placed underneath the castle itself. After getting out of the boats, they clamored after Hagrid through a passageway to a pair of large oak front doors. After a quick check to see that everyone was there he reached out and knocked three times on the doors. A tall stern looking black-haired witch in a emerald-green robes opened the doors.

"The firs' years, Professor Mcgonagall," said Hagrid.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."

She pulled the door open wider to allow them to enter. They stepped into the next room which was a gigantic entrance hall that was light with torches. There was a marble staircase in front of them that must lead to the floor above them. Mcgonagall lead them a small empty chamber off the hall. There she explained the houses and what was expected of them. After this small speech she left telling to smart themselves up before the sorting.

Dudley stood in the back of the group with Snape who was nervously straightening his robes and Lily. Two boys towards the front of the group were talking loudly in an attempt to look bold. Which he found annoying but since he couldn't see them they were easy to ignore. He could hear several kids talking about what you would have to do to get sorted. Some of their ideas involved fighting dragons or having to do some sort of magical test.

Sudden there were gasps, screams and even Dudley's jaw dropped in surprise as several ghosts floated through the solid back wall of the chamber. They were pearly-white and you could see right through them. They didn't pay hardly any attention to the first years as they passed through the chamber and talked among themselves

"I've been thinking of asking to join the headless hunt. What do you think Friar?" said a man wearing a ruff and tights.

"I think it's that would be a wonderful idea. I am sure that they will accept you, after all you are nearly headless." replied the fat little monk floating along beside him.

"Yes, but that what worries me."

"Ah, new students I presume." Said the Friar, who seemed finally notice them. "Hope to see you in Hufflepuff." He continued cheerfully.

"Or in Gryffindor." The other ghost said nodding at them. Which caused his head to fall off or at least it nearly did. The ghost's head was still attached to his body by a piece of skin. This spectacle caused another round of screams and gasps from the first years.

Professor Mcgonagall reappeared shortly after that and quickly ushered them to follow her. They formed a line as she instructed. Then followed her out the chamber, across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall. There were thousands of candles floating above their heads with a ceiling that looked like it was transparent because it showed the night sky. There were four long table one for each of the houses. And on the other side of the room was another table for the teachers.

Dudley made sure not to make eye contact with Dumbledore, remembering Harry saying something about eye contact and mindreading. Once they they were in place in front of the teacher's table. All attention was turned to a scruffy ancient looking hat which Mcgonagall had placed on a stool in front of them. Silence fell and then the hat began to sing.

-(Author notes)-

Like always hope anyone who read this enjoyed it and are willing to review.

I might try to write song for kicks or I might just skip the singing and just give the gist of the song haven't decided yet. But which ever is the case the sorting is up next. I am still looking for a beta.