36 - Blame

Dudley hates everything about this place. He has no friends – the way he sulks around, it's hard to find new ones – and his father isn't here, either. He can't even phone him, or write.

And all of it is Harry's fault. It was when Dad left, it is now, and who knows what else he'll have to give up for Harry in the future.

Dudley doesn't talk or play with him any more. When Harry comes to his room, he throws him out. Sometimes, when nobody is looking, he even pushes or punches him.

It doesn't make him feel better.

.-.-.-.

37 - Regression

Harry has grown even thinner lately, and paler too. They'd just started doing away with the nappies during daytime, but suddenly, it is impossible again. At night, just like when he was little, he'll more and more often wake up crying. Even his speech has begun to regress.

The reason is obvious, but no amount of talking to Dudley will work. "I don't care," is all he has to say.

One day, Harry gives him a picture, showing stick-figures of the two of them holding hands. He rips it apart without a word and doesn't stay to see Harry cry.

.-.-.-.

38 - Conditions

"All right," Brian says between two mouthfuls of pasta, "I'll come. But only if that stupid retard isn't there again."

He's the first friend Dudley has found so far, and it's the second time Dudley invites him home. The last time didn't go well: Brian doesn't like Harry, which he made quite clear to Dudley once they were alone.

But tomorrow, Harry will be at the speech therapist's, and they'll have the whole house to themselves.

"He won't be," Dudley assures, and Brian nods that it's okay. Dudley should be happy, but finds that for some unknown reason, he isn't.

.-.-.-.

39 - Turning Point

The therapist is sick and Harry is home, but instead of avoiding him, Brian is standing at his door, making faces and mean comments. Dudley shouldn't care, but still wishes he would stop.

Then Brian starts imitating Harry, making drool run down his chin.

"Look, I look just as stupid as him now," he says.

Harry stares back at them, pale and silent, and suddenly, Dudley can't take it anymore. Before he knows what he's doing, he's shoved Brian away from the door.

"Harry's not stupid!" he snaps. "You are! Sod off, I don't want you to be my friend!"

.-.-.-.

40 - Realisation

When Brian is gone, Dudley feels no loss. He turns to Harry, wanting to hug him, wanting to comfort him. He always does, after all. Harry flinches and takes a step back, and Dudley freezes. For a moment, he'd forgotten everything else. Now he remembers, and he doesn't know what to do.

He told Brian he was the stupid one, but what about himself? Suddenly, all he wants is having Harry back – screw friends, screw everyone else. But it seems too late, and it's his own fault.

In the end, he simply leaves for his room. He feels like crying.