A few days had passed since Al had stopped by in person.

Dudley had apologized to Harry, Ron and Hermione in a letter, stating he had been extremely busy and that an inquisitive roommate had noticed more owls than usual in the area. He figured Harry would think it strange that he and Al were pen pals as well and so sought to avoid any questions about it. The three had forgiven him the lapse of letters and things were normal on that front.

It was still a bit surprising, realizing one of his friends was even older than his parents, but Dudley found that fact to ignore rather easily when after an argument over which sweet was the best. For some reason, Al thought lemon drops were the best while Dudley was quick to argue that flying saucers were. Al had then asked what they were.

How could anyone not know what flying saucers were?!

Dudley had sent him some… after tasting a few… just to be sure that they were good enough for Al, of course. He was just being a good friend. And Fawkes was just being a good pet when he tasted a few too.

Sweets aside, Al had kept his word and had apparently resolved "the dragon issue," while managing to politely complain to Dudley in the same letter about a friend of his.

I swear, mid-century crises are the worst to deal with. And when I state repeatedly that a school is not a safe place for alchemic artifacts, I'm told that I'm "too young to know any better."

Dudley couldn't stop his laughter. Al being too young? Ha!

Though it made him wonder what Al had been like when he was younger. He was old enough to have memories of things that were history…

Thinking about that, Dudley continued to read the venting letter from his oldest friend.

Of course I know better, it's my blasted school! There's more than enough evidence to say someone is hiding in the woods just outside the school grounds that wants to steal the artifact. But does my friend listen? No! "The wards and magicks within Hogwarts are powerful due to the amplification of the ley lines," he said. "It'll work out perfectly and everyone will be safer. The stars have shown the Stone must be at Hogwarts!"

Divination has its place Dudley, but I have yet to see anything good come of it when practiced by someone other than a weather forecaster. It is a subject I have come to view with the utmost distaste when it doesn't concern the weather. At least Minerva-my deputy Headmistress-agrees with me on this.

Unfortunately, she makes this distaste extremely well known. I have faith she will learn to be more subtle with age.

I would write more, but the Minister of Magic has filled my desk with letters. Do you know he's even asking me now if the lime green bowler hat looks nice in one letter and in the other asking what's the best way to deal with other countries.

I suspect I will need more lemon drops after reading through these letters. Do take care.

Dudley chuckled and went onto the other letter that had arrived at the same time. Harry and Hermione had been given detention for apparently helping to get rid of that Hagrid's dragon, and both had been surprised that Al had stepped in and gotten them out of detention. Harry had said that a classmate of his had said there was something in the forest killing unicorns, but no one knew what it was.

Rather logically, Dudley had asked Al what could be killing unicorns and why.

Unicorn blood is extremely rare, very powerful and interesting. It is one of the few magical objects that can have extreme effects due to intent and one's nature.

The reply had been a bit interesting and frightening; it had said that a very dangerous being killing the unicorns and firmly emphasized that Dudley should discourage his cousin from exploring the forest to find out what was doing it. As for why… it seemed unicorn's blood was a very rare, powerful substance that came with a price. It would save anyone who was even an inch from death but it would come at a cost: the drinker of the substance would be cursed, because something innocent had been slain for a selfish reason.

Perhaps Dudley wasn't as clever as other people and he took more time to mull things over, but he had put together the implications of that easily enough. He had told his friends about Nicholas Flamel, after all, and Al had been complaining about alchemic artifacts being in his school.

Whatever was killing the unicorns didn't care about the price because there was something more powerful in the school: the Elixir of Life.

Dudley had written back to Harry asking about unicorn parts and their use in magic, including blood, figuring his cousin would put the same facts together that he had.

He hadn't been disappointed, though he had been surprised a little at one accusation.

I heard not a lot of things can kill unicorns, D. I think it's Voldemort. He's clung to life waiting to come back. I bet Snape wants the stone for Voldemort and Voldemort's waiting in the forest… and all this time we thought Snape just wanted to get rich.

I bet that's why he tried sneaking by that dog on Halloween too! D, Snape's working with him. I know everyone says Dumbledore's the only one that Voldemort's scared of but what if Snape's got him fooled? He's let Snape do whatever he wanted before, until we complained about it. I've got to do something.

Dudley didn't like the sound of that. His cousin sounded as if he were going to do something stupid.

I'm going to check on the corridor every day to make sure Fluffy's okay. It's better than doing nothing. I'll let you know if anything happens.

-Harry

The next few days, thankfully, held no bad news from his cousin. Unfortunately, Dudley was rather stressed himself now. Exam time had finally arrived along with the first ever robotics event Dudley would be involved in: a small, intramural tournament that Friday evening.

He had mentioned this tournament to his parents, but both were quite busy; his father apologized but had said that he was trying very hard to get this wealthy couple to invest in their company. His mother was involved with planning a convention about plants and flowers that was all the way in Harrogate so she was staying over there for the weekend. Dudley hoped that the couple, the Masons, his father had said, would indeed invest in the company so that he wouldn't feel so grumpy about having his parents miss not only his first chess tournament but also his first robotics event!

On Friday was the last of his exams: Maths and History, which had undoubtedly been the easiest of them all. Needless to say, Dudley was pleasantly surprised by the fact he knew most, if not all, of the material on his exams. Perhaps Jake's insistence on studying had paid off after all. He had cheered along with his classmates when Gawlinski had told them pencils down.

He was free, free from schoolwork! Now it was just waiting for his marks, learning his summer assignments for next year and then the next time he would see Smeltings would be in September. His parents would be picking him up Tuesday and then, summer would begin… and his birthday close behind. But for now, he was completely free.

Well, he'd be free after tonight's robotics event. But what could he do before then? Everyone else involved was currently involved in taking their families around the school on a tour after a hard week's worth of exams. Figuring he would take the time to take a nap and perhaps give Bowser some exercise, Dudley said goodbye to Gawlinski and left the building.

As he walked towards his dorm, a voice roared, "Dudders? There you are, my neffy poo!"

Dudley turned in surprise. There was no way that it could be her, but it was: his Aunt Marge.

She was very much like Dudley's father, large, beefy, and purple-faced, she even had a mustache, though not as bushy as his.

"Aunt Marge?" he yelped, surprised. Needless to say, he was soon gasping for air because his aunt had seized him in a tight one-armed hug and planted a large kiss on his cheek. "What are you doing here?" Dudley asked as air returned to his lungs and he took a step back.

"You look so grown in your uniform!" she said it with approval, nodding. "Vernon and Petunia told me you had something happening today."

"A robotics tournament," said Dudley, walking with his aunt easily. "Remember the one you got me a few years ago?"

His aunt nodded, talking with Dudley easily about robots and school as he showed her around, until the conversation came to…

"Chess?" his aunt asked, looking surprised. "Vernon told me about boxing and robots but nothing about chess."

"I really like it," said Dudley, waiting for a similar reaction to his father's.

His aunt surprised him, however, by laughing and hugging him once more, making him gasp for air. She was strong! "Oh Dudders! Ladies will love you, you have looks and brains!"

Dudley felt himself turning pink and he couldn't think of anything to say so he just nodded before returning to showing his aunt around once more until, finally, it was time for the competition.

It was far more crowded than Dudley expected it to be and soon he and his teammates were excitedly talking. There were a few things that would be done in the tournament-some tasks for the robots to test their abilities and then, the part Dudley was looking forward to, a robot fight!

Their robot had the tracks that were from the tank to move around and over obstacles, plus heavy claws that would act as its hands and the air gun barrel on its shoulder with ammunition held on its back for a useful weapon that would help the hands.

Dudley waited excitedly with his team. Two of the older students would be controlling the robot this time but it was still exciting to watch and shout encouragement.

It was a rush to see robot after robot come out. Some were well built. Others… weren't so well built, more mobile but also more delicate.

The fight had everyone shouting and Dudley could even hear his aunt's voice loudly shouting and cheering. Their team used the gun to great advantage, striking most of the opponents control centers and easily moving over the wreckage of other smashed robots, but two other robots beat them.

"Still," said Jake with a wide grin. "Third's not bad for our first time."

"We'll do better next time," said Dudley with a nod. They left with their teammates and families, all having dinner in the school cafeteria, chatting animatedly about the contest.

"Vernon missed an excellent competition," said Aunt Marge, proudly patting Dudley on the back. "I'm sure he'll come to the next one."

"I hope so," said Dudley with a grin before a light chuckle made them both glance over to see Jake standing with his parents.

"Mum, Dad, this is my friend Dudley," said Jake.

Dudley stood immediately, shaking both of their hands, "Hi Mrs. Christie, Mr. Christie. It's a pleasure to meet you. This is my Aunt Marge."

The adults all shook hands, Mrs. Christie murmuring, "I'm glad someone was able to come from your family."

Aunt Marge chuckled, "I wouldn't have missed it. Vernon and Petunia would normally be here."

"Mum's helping with a convention in Harrogate," explained Dudley. "And Dad's really busy with a business proposal."

"The horticultural society's convention?" asked Mr. Christie, looking interested. "We were going to see that this weekend."

"I think so," said Dudley. He wondered if the hibiscus plants were up there with his mother and tried to not grin as he remembered her reaction to Bowser eating them.

"So young man," said Mr. Christie, looking suddenly rather serious, "what are your plans for the summer?"

"Er," said Dudley, taken aback. "I dunno… Hang out and do my summer work, I suppose."

"I told you nobody else has to go to summer camp," complained Jake.

"It's good for you," said Mrs. Christie to her son. "It helps you get out more. When you're home you just hide in your room playing games or reading. Camp makes sure you get some fresh air and make friends. I'm glad you managed to make a friend here." Her tone was so matter-of-fact and almost scornful that Dudley was surprised.

Jake turned pink, looking at his feet, and Dudley spoke, feeling bad for his friend, "Jake's got lots of friends here. We're in a bunch of groups together and they're our friends. He's a great guy and the smartest one in our class."

His friend shot him a grateful look and his parents seemed a bit surprised at that tidbit before they began talking about business and the like with Aunt Marge.

Finally, it was time for their families to leave and Dudley hugged his aunt good bye.

"You come visit me this summer," said his aunt quietly. "Don't need no summer camp!"

"Yes you do," teased Dudley. "You just used a double negative."

"Oh shush you!" said Aunt Marge with an affectionate hit to her nephew's shoulder. "I would love for you to see the place. You don't come out often enough."

"I wouldn't mind," agreed Dudley, thinking of his old friends and how they'd be likely to bother him all summer. Any time away from that seemed great. "But maybe I'll go with Jake to summer camp for a bit if Mum and Dad let me."

"If you want to go," said Aunt Marge, "then you'd better tell them quick. Camps might all be full!" She smiled and gave him another hug before leaving.

Dudley walked back to his dorm with Jake, asking him about summer camp and what it was like.

"You would love it," admitted Jake. "It's a bunch of stuff. Canoeing, hiking, swimming… all that stuff. Probably would help you with your boxing."

"Swimming does help," said Dudley, having to admit that it did sound interesting. Tired after all the excitement, he and Jake returned to their dorm and both dozed off.

It felt like no time at all when a fierce poke awoke Dudley. "Ouch!" he yelped, waking up and rubbing at his arm. He looked around, confused. It wasn't morning yet.

Fawkes was standing on him, a letter in his beak. Dudley glanced around but the others in his dorm were all asleep. "Whazzit?" He asked with a yawn, surprised that Fawkes would come so late and wake him up. It had to be important. He turned on his desk lamp and read Al's handwriting.

Dudley,

I have informed your parents but, in case they do not share the news with you, I am telling you as well. Harry is currently unconscious in the hospital wing.

What?! Dudley was instantly awake and read the letter.

He is in stable condition at the moment, and we are keeping careful watch.

Obviously not since Harry was in the Hospital Wing, but Dudley pushed that thought aside to continue reading.

I will plainly state what happened: Harry was attacked by Voldemort. It seems he had possessed the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and thus bypassed the wards, allowing him to enter Hogwarts. Unfortunately that professor is no longer alive and I am now having to look for yet another person to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts. Finding replacements for that post is becoming more and more difficult each year due to a jinx preventing someone from teaching two years in a row that is proving extremely difficult to remove.

I blame my friend for this since he insisted that the artifact Voldemort was after to be stored in my school. Hopefully a professor getting killed, your cousin almost getting killed and another student injured will convince him to reconsider using a school to store such an item…

I will keep in touch. Rest assured, your cousin is in good hands and will make a full recovery.

-Al

Dudley read and re-read the letter, not even noticing when Fawkes left. Questions buzzed in his mind, but one fact that kept coming to his mind was the fact that Al had told him about this.

Not his parents.

Did they not want him to worry?

Or did they simply not care?

Looking at the letter and thinking of his unconscious cousin who had been attacked by a powerful wizard that murdered lots of people… Dudley wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer.