12/13: As promised, I'm writing a shorter chapter today! After this, it's highly unlikely I will update regularly--I mentioned in my profile that I'm working on my own project. Enjoy the fresh chapters while you can. A lot of people put up disclaimers stating they don't own any Harry Potter characters. Has anyone ever come on to this site and been mistaken? Ooooh, that girl's got quite the imagination to've come up with that Harry Potter chappy. While I am secretly in love with him, I do not own Harry Potter or anything that pertains to his world.

"Dudley, is there something wrong?" Harry greeted the moment he heard the croaky voice on the other end.

"Harry? How'd you get my message?" Dudley had been nearly convinced that it'd be ages before Harry checked his mobile. Why use a phone when you can appear before people in an instant?

Harry was fairly accustomed to Dudley's displays of dimwittedness. He once antagonized him mercilessly for it, but as a man, he knew better patience.

"My God Dudley, how many mobiles have you had? After that beeping noise, you left a message, and it was recorded for me to hear later--"

"I ruddy-well know how to use a phone! I'm talking about your magic making electronics go all wonky!"

"Huh." Harry sounded impressed. "I'm surprised you remembered that. I was doing a bit of work among muggles today. Electronics don't work properly when there's an overabundance of magic, and there was only myself and another wizard on duty."

"Right. I see. Well, thanks for callin'." Dudley was poised to hang up.

"The thing is, you called me, remember? It almost sounds like you want to take back your invitation . . ." Harry trailed off with his implication.

"No, it's not that . . . well with your kids not being able to control their magic and all . . . my family isn't supposed to know about you lot . . . I just wanted to have a word, is all."

"Nearly all of my children are in school, save Lily, and she hasn't done anything too suspicious. Just the other day she did the most amusing thing with my shaving foam--"

Goosebumps erupted along his arms.

"That sounds real precious, Harry. So did they already get their letters for the coming term?" He attempted nonchalance, glad that Harry provided him with some kind of an opening.

"Oh, no, not yet. The summer is still young. Your youngest will be starting high school, won't he?"

Blast. I'll have to keep a look-out for owls. Yes, if all goes according to plan, Dale'll be the happiest damn "muggle" there ever was. If not . . .

"Yes, that's what we're getting ready for, anyway." He immediately saw the stupidity in his remark.

"Anticipating a change of direction for him? You're not considering putting him into Smeltings, are you?"

"Nah. He'd knock himself unconscious with the Smeltings stick first day. We've looked into a few of those clever children's schools. I suppose it'd be too late to hear from them now."

"You never do know. Those letters can make quite unexpected appearances." Harry reminisced, intending to make Dudley laugh. Dudley apparently did not get the joke.

"Right, well, Colette's calling. Must be off."

"Do you want us over for dinner or not?" Snapped Harry.

"Sorry, yeah. Colette would love to have you over. What night's good for ye?" To back out of the invitation now would be particularly rude . . . something his father would do. And it had been some time since he'd last seen his cousin. He was plenty curious how his children must look.

Harry paused. "Hmmm." Dudley heard a woman's shrill voice in the background, "Don't miss the date or you'll anger your mate!"

"Next Friday good for the Dursleys?"

"Next Friday it is." Dudley agreed, hardly knowing if it was a good day or not.

"Brilliant. I'll let Ginny and the kids know. Give my best to Colette, for me."

"And mine to Ginny." The last time he saw the lovely red-head, she was eight months pregnant. He would have to keep her away from his fireplace.

They clicked off at the same time. Dudley at last opened the doors to the living room.

"Colette! We'll be expecting company!"