Clover smiled a little and then nodded. Dudley stood up from beside the grate, and walked forward offering his hand to Mr. Weasley. Arthur was a little surprised but shook it gently, and then took a seat on the opposite side of the fire.
"Mr. Weasley, thank you for coming on such short notice, I just had some questions." Dudley said, sitting nearby.
"Of course, of course! I'm more than happy to assist." He said, pulling a slender stick from his coat pocket and placing it on the small table by the chair. "I hope you don't mind my setting my wand down, I always poke myself with it." Dudley shook his head, and then leaned forward.
"I just want to know if it's safe for my daughter to be going to that school, after all, when Harry was there, many bad tidings were in the works, and he was dead center. I just need to be assured no harm will befall Clover if I send her into this place." Dudley said eagerly. Petunia looked at Arthur expectantly, and clasped Clover's hand.
Arthur Weasley took a deep breath and then smiled. "I am here to tell you that what happened to Harry, will not ever happen again, in fact it's thanks to Harry that I'm sitting here with you folks, and it's also thanks to him that we are living in a period without worry of something like that ever being repeated. So yes, I'm positive that she will be safe." Dudley gave a small nod, and then looked over to where his daughter sat.
"And how will she be able to correspond with us? And get the things she needs, especially because I'm not even sure where to begin looking to get her school supplies." Dudley continued. Arthur smiled again and held up his hand.
"Fear not Mr. Dursley, you and your daughter will be escorted by a Ministry official to Diagon Alley, so that you may purchase all of her supplies and be prepared for her first year at Hogwarts."
Dudley seemed satisfied with the given answers and then turned to Clover again. "Did you have anything you'd like to ask Mr. Weasley, poppet?" Clover released her grandmother's hand, and then nodded.
"I'm just curious to know who this Harry person is, and why everyone seems to know him." She said softly. Dudley looked to Arthur for a moment, before he spoke.
"Harry is my cousin, he lived with us for a long time, and he was like you. Father never cared much for having him around, and I'm not one to speak for your Nan, but he was a constant presence in the summer months, and all I knew was that he lived with us because his parent's died. I can't really tell much more than that. But I had a great deal of respect for him when we were around 15 or 16 years old, he saved me from this horrible creature, and had it not been for his magic, I'm sure I'd be dead." Dudley sighed before looking expectantly at his mother.
Petunia took Clover's hands and then spoke gently. "My sister Lily, she was a witch, and when she left home, I vowed to never speak to her again. I wanted so desperately to be like her, but it was not to be. I barely even remember her now, as it has been so long. I never even got to say goodbye. Lily and her husband were killed trying to protect themselves and Harry, at least, that's all I know from a letter that I received when Harry was left on our doorstep." She explained, her face looking gaunter.
Clover blinked and looked at the ground. "How come we've never visited him?" she asked her father, her thoughts still whirring about. Dudley pursed his lips, and gave a small shrug.
"To be completely honest, I don't know the first thing about contacting him, ever since he got married and moved into his godfather's old house. I could look him up, I'm sure, but I don't even know what I'd say." He told her with a sad smile.
Arthur cleared his throat, trying to get their attention. "If I may; should Clover choose she'd like to attend Hogwarts, Harry and his family will be more than happy to assist, as he is now head of the Auror department, and would very much like to meet his second cousin." He said with a smile.
Petunia blinked, and then stood up. "It's a fine offer, but…" she trailed off, heading to the window. Dudley followed his mother, and then gave her a firm hug.
"Mum, it won't be bad, Mr. Weasley isn't the lying type, and Harry sounds like he's doing well for himself, it will truly be a treat to be back in contact with him." Dudley assured his mother, who shook like a leaf beneath the weight of her thoughts.
"It's your choice, Clover." Petunia said with a squeak. Clover looked between Mr. Weasley and her father and grandmother before she smiled a bit.
"I'd love to!" she exclaimed, hopping into the air excitedly.
A/N: SINCEREST APOLOGIES. I've been incredibly busy, but now that I've had some time and I'm jumping back into writing, I hope to keep updating. Sorry for the long wait!