Dudley knew he was beaming as he watched Amanda walk down the aisle of the church. According to tradition, he'd never seen her dress until the doors opened and all the bridesmaids were at the front. Merlin, she was beautiful!

After dating Amanda for the better part of two years, Dudley had realized two things. First of all, he had been completely assimilated into the magical world. In fact, so many of his friends were wizards and witches that he knew through either Harry or Amanda, that lots of people thought he was what that magical world called a squib. He couldn't remember when the use of Merlin became regular in his vocabulary, but it had, and he didn't mind a bit. The only problem was keeping it in check around his parents.

Secondly, Dudley knew for certain that the only woman he would ever want or love was Amanda Cosgrove. So after getting Harry and Ginny's help to pick out a ring that Ginny was certain Amanda would love, he proposed. The year that followed was like being sucked into a tornado.

In general, Dudley didn't have too many preferences regarding the wedding. He wanted to be there. He wanted Amanda to be there. It would be nice if Harry and Ginny were there since they were the reason Dudley was so happy. Other than that, Dudley was flexible. Still, Amanda asked his opinion at every turn, which only made Dudley love her more. They both knew that he would be happy with whatever made her happy, but the fact that she loved and respected him enough to ask his opinion spoke to how beautiful she was on the inside.

It turned out, however, that there was one subject that Dudley was the decision maker on. Amanda had put him in charge of finding a great caterer.

"Oh it'll be fine if left to me," she'd said as they snuggled on his couch, buried in wedding plans, "But it will be fantastic if an actual chef selects the caterer and the menu."

Dudley had laughed and kissed her on the temple before agreeing to take on that responsibility. In the end, he'd insisted on keeping his culinary choices, even the cake, a secret. She had the dress, he had the food, and those little secrets made the stress of the whole planning process endurable.

Something that made it worse had been his mother. She criticized everything! Dudley had finally apologized for not being a girl so that she could produce some fairy tale princess wedding. That had quieted her so that at least Amanda didn't dread going to his parents for dinner once a week.

It had all climaxed, though, and now Amanda was gracefully floating down the aisle towards him. The dress was beautiful, but Dudley couldn't take his eyes off her smiling face. He still couldn't believe that anyone had actually agreed to spend the rest of their lives with him, let alone someone that he would have gladly nominated to replace Aphrodite.

DADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADAD

Dudley watched in horror as the beautiful face of his wife was contorted with pain. Ironically enough, it was still beautiful in a strange sort of way. After two years of trying to get pregnant and nine months of anxious waiting, their baby was only a few agonizing pushes away.

"Amanda you're doing wonderfully!" he exclaimed before kissing her forehead.

The doctor at the end of the delivery table nodded. "Just one more push, Amanda."

Amanda and Dudley made eye contact, the statement "I love you," passing between them, Amanda squeezed his hand even tighter, and she pushed. She pushed long and hard.

"It's a girl!" the doctor exclaimed.

Dudley turned the moment he heard a little cry and he felt tears well up in his eyes. Amanda's hand was still tight in his. He turned back to congratulate her, but her eyes were closed.

"Amanda? Honey? Look, the baby. . ."

Alarms were suddenly beeping all around him and before he knew it, he was being pushed away from her as nurses and the doctor fell upon her like vultures.

"What's happening?" he asked, his eyes flitting between his daughter and his wife in terror.

"She pushed too hard," the doctor answered shortly.

Dudley felt his stomach bottom out. Pushed too hard? Was that possible? It seemed to him like he stood there for an eternity as he watched them try to save her life. It finally stopped, though, and he heard from somewhere very far away, a voice like the doctor's telling him that Amanda had suffered from a brain aneurism on the last push. There was nothing they could do.

Another eternity passed in which something put in Dudley's arms, and he dutifully held it carefully against his body. His eyes never left the beautiful face of his wife, though.

"Dudley," came a voice from somewhere close by. It repeated itself as it got closer, and Dudley suddenly remembered where he was and began to understand what had happened. He turned to see Harry standing at his elbow. "Dudley?" he asked again.

Dudley looked from Harry to Amanda and back again, inexplicably hoping that Harry could use his magic and bring her back to life.

"She. . . .she. . ." Dudley stammered.

Harry laid a hand on Dudley's shoulder. "She'll always be able to watch her daughter now," he said softly. "Even when you can't."

Dudley blinked and looked down. For the first time, he got a good look at his daughter. He had no idea how long he'd been holding her, and the realization that he was doing the very thing he'd spent nine months terrified of doing startled him. "She didn't even get to see her daughter!" Dudley exclaimed softly. "Why. . .why?"

Harry shook his head. "I don't think there is a why," he answered. He was quiet again for awhile and Dudley could tell that he was studying the baby closely. "Had you two come up with a name?" he asked after awhile.

Dudley shook his head. "We were so sure it would be a boy."

Harry smiled.

Dudley sighed, feeling very overwhelmed and looked down at his daughter again. She was so pink and little!

"Ellen," he finally said. "Ellen Amanda Dursley."

Harry smiled and took the baby from him. He seemed so confident about it. Dudley couldn't understand how that was considering Harry and Ginny were still childless due to finishing their educations.

"It's my fault, Harry," Dudley said as he approached Amanda.

"There is no way it can be your fault," Harry replied firmly.

"I'm a muggle," Dudley pointed out. "If I'd been magical, she would have been a St. Mungo's and they would have been able to save her!" Unable to control himself any longer, Dudley collapsed onto the bed, took Amanda in his arms and sobbed.

Another eternity passed and Dudley found himself calming down somehow. He still felt aweful, but he didn't need to cry anymore. He kissed Amanda's forehead and pulled the sheet up over her head. When he turned around, Ginny was there, Ellen in her arms. She held the baby out to him.

Dudley shook his head and made to move past her, but Ginny was insistent. "Its horrible, Dudley," she agreed. "But cheating your innocent child out of her father doesn't make it right."

Dudley sighed. "I don't know. . ."

"We'll help you," Ginny promised.

Harry nodded, standing up from a chair in the corner. "In whatever way we can."

Dudley offered both of them a grateful smile as he let Ginny place Ellen back in his arms. He had no idea if Ellen would be a witch like her mother. If she was, he had no idea how to raise her. He knew that Amanda's parents would accept their grandchild no matter what, but his own parents. . . how would he manage them without Amanda? Then he looked up into the face of his two best friends and realized that at the very least, he wouldn't be alone.