Disclaimer: I do not in any way own Harry Potter or any of its characters.

Chapter 2

For the first time in Dudley's life, he spent the night outdoors. He'd never been camping before, and he didn't care for it much. Bugs crawled around in their tent, which was much too large to be possible. Dudley also thought that it was probably impossible to have piping and electricity built into fabric like this. More magic. Dudley did not sleep well that night. He dreamt of the magical world. Dementors, Death Eaters, and silver animals.

He did not understand this world but he didn't despise it like his parents. Vernon grumbled about raving lunatics while his mother complained about the ugly enchanted carpet. They were all very shaken but did not want to show it.

At least they were all safe, including Harry. The witch had said someone named Mad Eye had died; Dudley remembered him from the train station. The eye had been creepy and inhuman. The man had threatened his father to take better care of Harry. Vernon was not easily intimidated, but this guy had done it. But he had died. Last night. Only a few miles away, and up according to the wizard. Dudley shuddered. No one had found the man's body.

The witch had received another message explaining what had happened to everyone. They knew Mad Eye had died when You-Know-Who himself had chased them. Someone named Mundungus had abandoned him to save himself. This infuriated the witch and wizard. One of the red haired twins that had given Dudley the horrible candy had lost an ear. Dudley couldn't imagine how that would feel or look, and he did not really want to. His father said the boy deserved it.

They learned that You-Know-Who had found Harry and chased him until he crashed at the safe house. His mother was pleased to hear that the infernal owl of Harry's had been shot.

And lastly, they learned that a man called Severus Snape was the reason they'd been attacked.

At this news, his mother gasped. "Snape?"

"Have you met him?" the wizard asked interestedly. Petunia looked scared. She hated knowing bits of the magical world. Yet she spoke, as if she couldn't hold her information in.

"He lived near us when Lily and I were children. He was a nasty, spying boy. I hated him. He was ugly with poor taste in clothing. He spied on watching Lily and me when I was twelve. He's the one who told her what she was. They became friends. He was a horrible boy who hurt me with his magic. He took my personal property. I couldn't stand him." She finished and looked around nervously. She was very embarrassed. Vernon looked shocked at the idea of her being neighbors with a wizard.

"Well, he hasn't changed," Dedalus said sadly. "We thought he was on our side, but it turns out he was spying for You-Know-Who the entire time. Just last month he killed Dumbledore."

"Dubledore?" Vernon asked. "The crackpot with the long beard?"

"Yes," Hestia laughed sadly, "he was sometimes a bit odd, but he was brilliant."

"The greatest wizard of all time," Dedalus got a far off look in his eyes. The Dursleys were silent, not knowing what to say about the man they knew to be a freak.

"Can you believe the rubbish Rita Skeeter has written about him?" Hestia asked, suddenly angry.

"I've actually heard some of its true," Dedalus responded. "I'm planning on getting the book just to see if the rumors make sense or not."

"Well, I won't read it," Hestia retorted angrily.

"Sorry," Vernon interrupted, though he was not sorry at all, "but are we going to be staying in this bloody field forever or can we go somewhere more comfortable?"

"Oh," Dedalus was snapped out of his conversation, "yes we're going to be moving to a more permanent location soon."

"Should we start packing up, Dedalus?" Hestia asked.

"I suppose," he sighed. "We'd better get going."

Dedalus and Hestia quickly packed their belongings and the tent. The Dursleys mostly stood watching. Now that they were being forced to endure magic, it seemed kind of interesting. It was definitely more efficient; the tent was packed within minutes. And it was fascinating; at least to Dudley. He almost wished they could do it. Almost.

The Dursleys reluctantly Apparated again. The destination surprised them. The cabin by the sea.

The very place they'd stayed in their last attempt to outrun wizards.

How thick could you get?

Vernon pointed this fact out immediately. Yet the wizard protested, saying, "We wanted you to be someplace familiar. Hagrid told us that you picked this place when you were trying to… avoid him. It's quite safe out here. Dumbledore had more effective ways of tracking you than the Death Eaters will."

"But… it's filthy in there," Petunia protested.

"Oh, we've remodeled it a bit," Hestia said slyly. She opened up the shabby looking door to the inside.

Dudley pictured the same sandy living room from almost seven years ago, but this was something else entirely. An ornate, beautiful room opened up to them. It was much larger than before. The fire crackled merrily. Elaborate rugs covered the floors. Comfortable looking chairs and sofas were arranged in a pleasing manor. The place was spotless.

An unwilling smile lit Petunia's face. Even Vernon looked happy. Dudley couldn't believe he would be living in a place like this. Their house had been great, but this was brilliant! Dudley wished he could show his friends the life he was living now.

At the thought of his friends, Dudley felt another pang of homesickness. As cool as the house was, would they ever be able to leave here? Would they even be able to go over to the main land?

"Would you like to explore a bit?" Dedalus asked coyly, swelling with pride at how much they seemed to enjoy his decorating. The Dursleys didn't even nod; they just walked into their temporary home.

Past the living room, there was a just as beautiful dining room with a crystal chandelier. The kitchen was next. It looked like something Rachel Ray would have been proud to cook in. It seemed every food ingredient and utensil imaginable resided in this kitchen. Petunia actually squealed.

The bathrooms were expensive marble of varying colors. Petunia and Hestia shared one with Dudley, Vernon and Dedalus sharing the other. Hestia, Dedalus and Dudley each had their own room with Petunia and Vernon sharing one.

Dudley loved his room. It was as simple as that. It seemed to have everything his old room had but more. He had a workout station, a computer, a huge bed, a mini fridge, a television, and a walk in closet filled with clothes that had apparently already been magicked up here. There wasn't much decorated, but that was how Dudley preferred it. The other rooms were more or less the same.

This couldn't all be bad, could it?

How very wrong he was.