The weekend had passed with no news regarding Harry.

On the bright side, he had gotten a phone call from his parents. He had taken it in the headmaster's secretary's office, thinking it must be about Harry's condition.

"Marge mentioned that you were interested in summer camp, son?" His father's voice asked.

"Oh yes!" said Dudley, surprised that his aunt had spoken to his parents about it and that his father hadn't mentioned Harry. "My friend Jake goes and it sounded really interesting."

His father had laughed, "Well, she already did the calling around for you. There's still some openings."

Dudley was quite excited. He would have time with his friend this summer and be away from his old gang. And… well… his aunt had come through for him….

"Oh!" said Dudley, debating about it for a few seconds; he wanted to ask about Harry but then his parents would want to know how he knew. And he knew they wouldn't let him write to Al. They'd be bound to tell him about Harry soon anyway. He thought about the other thing on his mind before continuing, "Maybe later in the summer I can stay with Aunt Marge for a few days? She said she wanted me to visit when she was here, and she did all that calling for me…"

"Marge would love that. We'll figure out a good time for you to visit, but we'll get you into your summer camp so you can be with your friend."

"Thanks Dad," said Dudley. "Anything else?"

Surely now they would tell him about his cousin's condition.

"Nope. We'll see you soon, son," said Vernon. "Love you and your mother's blowing you a kiss."

Dudley could hear her shouting, "Love you Duddykins!" in the background and he mumbled, "Love you both too," before hanging up the phone.

Not one word about his cousin. Did they not want him to worry? Fawkes normally moved so quickly that he couldn't believe they didn't have updates on Harry's condition.

His stomach clenched a bit. It had to just be that they didn't want Dudley to worry. What else could it be, after all? They had to care about Harry a bit, since he lived with them and everything...

Classes returned to session and Dudley wondered if the teachers just gave up all their free time that weekend to grade, to have them back so quickly.

He wondered if they had made mistakes due to that, because his grades… couldn't be right.

They had all laughed when he had approached them for clarification, assuring him they were not mistaken.

Dudley had made the honor roll. These grades were the best he had ever had in his life, all excellent with teachers giving glowing reviews regarding his work.

It was strange.

He was definitely going to summer camp. He was in the top ten students in his class.

And yet... Dudley didn't feel very much like celebrating. Instead, he was sitting on the steps looking at the campus after his classes. He knew he should be packing up, but he just didn't feel like it.

"Why so glum, Dudley?" asked Gawlinski's voice quietly, making Dudley look up as he approached. "You should be very proud of yourself."

"My cousin managed to get hurt," explained Dudley, realizing what was nagging at him. "I've just been waiting to hear about it, that's all."

"I see." Gawlinski sat down, looking over the grounds as well. "He's in good hands, I'm sure."

"Yeah," said Dudley, sighing. "I just… I dunno, I still worry."

"Understandable," said Gawlinski, nodding. "No one can take away that knot of anxiety, the feeling of helplessness. I'm sorry that you're going through this." The man lightly laid a hand on Dudley's shoulder, "But know that if you ever want to talk, my door is always open and you are always welcome to send an email."

With that, he lightly patted Dudley on the shoulder and walked off, leaving the boy to his thoughts. After a while, Dudley sighed and went to his dorm to pack, carefully taking out his magical books, letters-everything relating to his correspondence with Harry and Al and the others- and putting them in his gym bag, covering them with his workout clothes and weights. There. Now even if his mother unpacked his trunk, she wouldn't see anything.

He took out his outfit for the next day and went to grab dinner with everyone else. He returned to the dorm first and froze; there was a letter in Al's usual neat script on his bed.

Without thinking, Dudley ran and ripped it open.

Dudley,

Harry has woken up today and is in excellent spirits and health.

I hope you are well.

-Al

The boy read the short letter over three times before the words sank in.

Harry was okay.

His cousin was okay.

Dudley was both relieved and overwhelmed with the urge to wallop his cousin as hard as he possibly could for being an idiot and getting hurt. As he put the note into his gym bag, he wasn't able to keep from smiling. His cousin was fine, he had made the honor roll, he'd be going to summer camp…

And later in the summer he'd be visiting his aunt. She lived on the old family farm, out in the country. There were a few acres of land there, with a lake and a barn and her dogs. She didn't have a computer or anything, though, which was one reason Dudley normally hated visiting her.

But she was strong. And good at boxing… and the lake would be excellent for his training, he could go swimming…

Not to mention being away from his old friends.

For the first time, Dudley found himself a little eager to visit his aunt.

He wrote to Al, thanking him, and to Harry, of course. He had to give his cousin a piece of his mind.

Harry,

You are an idiot. I am going to wallop you when I see you. HOW COULD YOU LET THAT DARK GUY PUT YOU IN THE HOSPITAL!?

I'm glad you're okay. See you soon!

-D

The next few days seemed to pass in a flurry of activity (and a letter from Harry saying 'I was trying to stop him, but none of the teachers would listen! Have mercy, I'm already injured, you'll make it worse!"). All too soon, his parents were at the school to pick him up and Dudley was saying goodbye to everyone while his parents put his things in the car, his mother sighing with slight exasperation as she looked at Bowser's tank and his father reassuring her that it and Dudley would fit just fine in the back...

"Dudley," said Mr. Gawlinski, from his office. "Here." He handed something to Dudley, which was wrapped; Dudley noticed a small stack of items and realized the man must have gotten all of his students a small present. "An end of the year present, to congratulate you on how far you've come. It was an honor to have you as my student for your first year here at Smeltings. I hope you continue your good work"

The boy took it curiously, wanting to open it but knowing he wouldn't have the time. It felt almost like a book, but he could tell it wasn't one; there was no binding, no pages… but it felt strangely smooth… "Thank you, sir," he said, thinking. "For… helping me and… and talking with me… and… the chess sets…" Dudley found himself feeling choked up, and he cleared his throat. "It… It meant an awful lot."

"I'm glad," said Gawlinski, smiling slightly.

"Come on Dudley!" called his father from down the hall.

"Have a good summer, sir," said Dudley to Gawlinski.

The man smiled, "You as well, Dudley."

His father helped him place his trunk in the boot of the car and Dudley brought his gym bag up to the back seat.

It was a long, boring ride back to Privet Drive, with his father complaining about traffic once more and his mother anxious about possibly missing her soap operas. Dudley tuned them out, glancing at the wrapped gift his history teacher had given him.

Quietly, slowly, for some reason not wanting his parents to question him, Dudley opened it in the back seat.

It was a framed image of chess pieces: a pawn and a king, with something written under it: 'Dans cette vie nous sommes soit des rois ou des pions, des empereurs ou des imbéciles.'

The boy frowned and noticed a letter behind the frame.

"In this life we are either kings or pawns, emperors or fools."

You've learned a lot this year, Dudley, and I am so very proud of you. Keep moving forward and don't go back. Be a king, not a pawn.

-Mr. Gawlinski

Dudley smiled slightly at it and tucked it away in his gym bag, next to his letter from Al telling him that Harry was okay and Harry's letter for mercy.

The boy looked out the window, not really taking in the view, but zoning out slightly. He ended up dozing off, only realizing this when his mother shook him awake once they reached home.

A few of the neighbors were still outside, some trimming hedges and others watering their lawns. Mr. Turner from Number Five waved at Dudley, who grinned and waved back before bringing his gym bag upstairs and then Bowser's tank while his dad hefted his trunk and his mother went to start dinner.

Dudley glanced around his room, a bit surprised. It was surprisingly… empty. Perhaps it was because he was used to spending so much time in the library and computer room or clubs with Jake. Though perhaps empty wasn't the right word. He had so many things here but nothing he really cared about anymore.

He heard shouting from outside, which interrupted his thoughts, and Dudley frowned. Glancing out the window showed Piers and the others. They wouldn't do anything right now with so many adults outside, but they'd no doubt try. And then there was the fact that they could easily get into the back garden...

A devious grin spread across Dudley's face and he rummaged around the house while his father watched television and his mother cooked dinner. He found double-sided tape and tacks and went to the fence in the back, lining the top with it. Hopping the fence would injure them and hopefully put thoughts of sneaking in out of their heads.

It was so strange, having to be in this situation. Being the target of a group of people for something he hadn't even been responsible for. Trap set, he returned to his room and began to clean out his trunk and the things in his room. He set aside his old clothes that were too large for him, sure his mom would drag him shopping before camp. He shook his head; his mother loved shopping and he knew clothes shopping meant a long day of trudging behind her in the shops.

The trunk was empty except for the magical items. Dudley furrowed his brow, thinking. He had heard of secret shelves and the like…

He looked around his room before an idea occurred to him. He slowly, carefully, looked towards his closet. It was easy to sneak to the yard; his mother was watching her soap operas and his father was talking to a neighbor on the lawn. Dudley took a crowbar from the tool shed and went to his room. He listened intently and then, slowly, began to gently pry up a few of the floorboards in his closet. Once that was finished, he loosely placed the floorboards back, put the letters and book in the little area and returned the crowbar to the tool shed.

All was still quiet and Dudley looked around the tool shed, seeing his racing bike he had received last year. Remembering what had happened the first time he had ridden it and wincing, thinking of poor Mrs. Figg, he dusted it off.

"Mum!" he called. "I'm going to go out on my bike!"

"Be careful!" Petunia called back.

Dudley smiled and left the house with his bike, his father giving him some pocket money in case he got thirsty on his ride, so he could get water or juice from a store.

"Be back in time for dinner!" said Vernon, returning to the discussion of cars with a neighbor.

Little Whinging was a quiet little suburb, almost boring, but there were still things to do if one was willing to drive. For now, Dudley just rode his bike around, passing the playground where little kids were playing, figuring he'd just go to the park for a destination.

It was two days later when they went to London to pick up Harry. Not wanting his cousin to get into trouble, since Dudley was sure his parents wouldn't be happy they had become pen pals, he asked to wait in the car.

"I'll wait here too," volunteered his mother. His father sighed.

"Coming all the way out here for this blasted brat…" Vernon stomped off.

"... Mum?" Dudley asked it hesitantly.

"Yes Dudders?" Petunia smiled fondly at him.

The boy debated for a bit. He didn't want to get her upset…

"... Why do we even have custody of Harry, instead of one of those people?"

"It was supposed to protect him, the ungrateful brat," said his mother, pursing her lips and looking upset. Dudley stayed quiet and looked up as his father approached with Harry in tow.

His cousin didn't look very different to Dudley, but it was obvious Harry didn't think the same thing, because his green eyes had widened upon seeing Dudley.

"Get in and be quick about it," snapped Vernon. Harry quickly entered the car next to Dudley, bringing his owl with him. She hooted at both boys and Harry gave Dudley a smile, though it faded quickly at the glare Petunia gave him.

The drive home was quiet besides his father complaining about traffic and Harry.

But even Dudley wasn't ready for what his parents did when they returned home. His father shoved everything of Harry's-his trunk, his wand, his broomstick… all of it was put into the cupboard under the stairs and padlocked. The boy's eyes widened when Vernon locked Hedwig in her cage too.

"But I've got schoolwork to do!" complained Harry angrily.

"Not our problem," snapped Vernon.

"And Hedwig needs to fly!"

"I know what'll happen if that owl's allowed out!" roared his father.

Dudley watched for a few seconds, thinking hard when an idea occurred to him.

"... Dad?" He said it quietly, but even in his tirade about Harry, his father heard him.

"Yes son?"

"D-Don't you remember last summer?" He asked. "How they… you know… you thought they were watching the house and all… if… if they are, they might… you know… send that big guy again…" Dudley trailed off, fidgeting uncomfortably.

His parents shared horrified looks. Obviously, this had not occurred to them. Dudley glanced at Harry and gave a slight wink, making his cousin slowly smile back.

"Fine," snapped his father, unlocking the cage. "I see one ruddy letter…" he trailed off, the threat quite clear. He returned to the cupboard. "Get the things you need for your summer work."

Harry grabbed a stack of books, parchment, quills, ink…. and his typewriter. Going upstairs with Hedwig and the books and things took him three trips. The cupboard was locked once more after that. Dudley went upstairs while Petunia began to cook and Vernon watched television.

"Thanks," said Harry, poking his head into Dudley's room. "For speaking up, I mean."

Dudley gave a shrug, "It's true, isn't it?"

Even if it wasn't, he was sure a simple letter to Al would've made it easy for someone to visit.

Harry smiled, "I guess. I didn't think of it, is all. That boxing really… you can tell you put a lot of work into it."

"Thanks." Dudley smiled back at him, feeling slightly awkward until he caught sight of the gift Gawlinski gave him. "Want to play chess?"

"Sure. Still not very good though," warned Harry.

Dudley felt relieved as his cousin sat down on the floor as he pulled out the board. Things were just fine between them after all.