The following morning Petunia and Dudley woke up, dressed and made their way down stairs. Both ordered bacon and eggs with toast and ate their fill. Kingsley showed up about ten minutes later.
"Did both of you sleep well?"
"Better than I had expected. Mr. Shacklebolt…"
"Please call me Kingsley."
"Kingsley once we finish shopping in Diagon Alley I would like to go to the house and get a few things. Would that be all right?"
"Yes, of course."
Petunia and Dudley followed Kingsley through The Leaky Cauldron out through a back door. Petunia and Dudley looked around and all they saw was a brick wall and a trash can. They were both wondering how could they get through to Diagon Alley. Petunia couldn't remember how she, her sister and parents got to Diagon Alley all those years ago.
Kingsley tapped the wall three times with his wand. A brick began to quiver and then wriggled for a while. In the middle a small hole appeared. It grew larger and larger, in a matter of seconds there was an archway to a cobbled street that seemed to twist and turn out of sight. It seemed as though no one else was around.
They followed Kingsley onto the cobbled street. As they walked on they saw shops up and down the street. Petunia started remembering bits and pieces of when coming to Diagon Alley before. She was in awe of everything she saw this time. All those years ago she never paid much attention to the shops. She had been consumed with envy and jealousy towards Lily.
Dudley nearly looked as though he had just been released inside a candy store. He turned his head left and right trying to take it all in at once. He was amazed and excited. His only thoughts were if only he had more eyes, if only time would slow down enough to see it all and how he couldn't wait to tell Harry.
Petunia and Dudley kept pace with Kingsley, it seemed he knew where he was going. Just as Kingsley finished telling them about Gringotts and the goblins they arrived in front of a snowy white building that towered all the shops. Wearing a scarlet and gold uniform stood a goblin by the bronze doors. As they walked up the stone white steps the goblin bowed them inside. There was a second set of doors that were silver.
Once they walked through the silver doors they saw a marble hall. There seemed to be hundreds more goblins. It was large and spacious, there were several doors leading off the hall. There were goblins sitting on high stools behind a counter. Goblins were leading people to various doors, some were scribbling in large ledgers, others examining gold coins, weighing coins, examining stones and jewels.
Kingsley walked up to an available goblin.
"I have a letter here from the Minister of Magic. He has given me authorization to make a withdrawal." Kingsley said as he handed the letter over to the goblin.
The goblin read over the letter and verified the Minister's signature.
"Very well. Some one will take you to the vault. Griphook!"
Another goblin appeared and motioned for them to follow. They followed Griphook through a door that led them into a narrow stone hall that was lit with a few torches for light. They walked on being careful not to fall as the floor sloped steeply downward. Petunia and Dudley noticed that there were railway tracks, small but definitely railway tracks. Griphook whistled and a cart came hurtling up towards them. Once everyone had climbed into the cart it moved forward immediately.
They sailed left, right, down, left, down farther while twisting one way and then another. They continued to sail along the track twisting one way and then another and going even farther down. Though Petunia and Dudley did not feel as though they would fall out, they gripped their seats as though they might. With relief the cart came to a halt. They all climbed out and followed Griphook along a narrow passage and around a corner. There was a vast wall with a metal door in the middle. Griphook tapped the door with a finger seven times. A grim, ghostly voice said something in another language that sounded like a question. Kingsley said something that sounded like an answer in the same language. A second later the metal door swung open. Petunia and Dudley were staring at the vast piles of gold, silver and bronze coins. Their eyes were huge and their mouths gaping open.
Kingsley pulled out an amount of money and they left. After the cart ride back, Petunia and Dudley were extremely thankful to be stepping out into the warm sunlit street. Kingsley took Petunia and Dudley first to Madam Malkin's to get their robes, then to Flourish and Blotts. Kingsley quietly spoke to the shop owner about the books for Petunia. Off they went to get their cauldrons and scales, and potion ingredients. At Eyelops Owl Emporium it took Petunia and Dudley a while to choose their owls. Finally Petunia decided on a snowy white owl that had light brown shading around its eyes, she named her owl Speckles. Dudley chose a tawny barn owl and called him Merlin.
They approached an old, weather warn, shabby looking building with peeling gold letters over the door that read: Olivander's: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. Kingsley led the way inside the shop.
"Ah, Kingsley Shacklebolt. Been a long time since I saw you last. What brings you here?"
"Just helping these two out, they will be needing wands Mr. Olivander."
Mr. Olivander turned his silvery eyes on Petunia and Dudley. He was quite curious about the pair before him as he studied them. He walked out from behind the counter and looked them over.
"Which is your wand arm?'
"Uh…I'm right handed and my son is left handed."
Mr. Olivander measured both from shoulder to finger, wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knew to armpit and around the head. He then scurried back behind the counter and started pulling wands for each to try. After two hours and going through every single wand Petunia finally had her wand, Willow and Unicorn hair (from a female unicorn), ten and a quarter inches. Dudley also had his wand, Oak and Dragon Heart String, eleven inches.
Petunia and Dudley followed Kingsley out of the shop and back to The Leaky Cauldron. They put their purchases in their room and met Kingsley down stairs at a table. They had a late lunch before going to Privet Drive.
Once they arrived at the house Kingsley followed Petunia and Dudley inside. Petunia told Kingsley he could sit wherever he'd like and then followed Dudley upstairs to pack a few things.
Once they packed what they wanted to bring with them they brought it all down and set their bags at the foot of the stairs. Petunia went into the kitchen and made some tea for them to drink before returning to The Leaky Cauldron. Petunia had just barely set the tray down on a small table in the living room when they heard a knock at the door. Petunia quickly walked down the hallway to the door and opened it to find a police officer standing there.
"Can I help you?" Asked Petunia
"Are you Mrs. Dursley?"
"Yes." She said but thought not for much longer.
"I am really sorry to have to tell this ma'am. Your husband was in a car accident. The accident caused a heart attack. I am so sorry your husband didn't survive."
Petunia gasped, clapped a hand over her mouth and stared at the officer.
"Again I am so sorry. Is there anything I can do? Is there anyone you would like me to call for you?"
Petunia shook her head slowly. She closed the door as the officer turned around and walked away.
Petunia re-entered the living room, she was slightly pale and didn't seem to remember that her son and Kingsley were sitting on the couch.
"Mrs. Dursley, is every thing all right?"
"Oh…uh…possibly."
"Mum who was at the door?"
"It was a police officer. Vernon was in an accident and…and he…he didn't survive."
Dudley stayed, frozen, on the couch and turned pale. Kingsley got up and walked over to Petunia. Once he reached her he did not know what to do or say. He did not know if he should console her or not.
"I'm okay. Really I am. Would I be a horrible person to feel relieved that he's gone from this world?'
"No you are not a horrible person. What you, Dudley and Harry have gone through and what you recently found out, it's natural to feel and be relieved. None of you have to suffer the abuse of that…" Kingsley trailed off, as he couldn't find right word to describe Vernon. To Kingsley, Vernon was no man.
"Mum, what does this mean?'
"It means that we can stay here. I know a lot of horrible things happened here, but we can make it better. On second thought, we only stay here long enough to find another place to live." Petunia then looked at Kingsley and said, "Kingsley, could you please collect our things from The Leaky Cauldron and bring them here? Oh, and please call me Petunia or Ms. Evans."
"I shall return as soon as possible with your things, Petunia." With that Kingsley left.
Petunia went upstairs and started removing everything of Vernon's. As she did this she used no care or consideration of the things. She bagged everything up, dragged it down stairs and did the same thing throughout the rest of the house. Once she did this she put all in the trash outside.
By the time Kingsley returned Petunia had started on the photos, she was removing Vernon from them.
"Thank you, Kingsley."
"Your welcome, Petunia. I will return in the morning to escort you and Dudley to Kings Cross Station and help you to get on the platform to catch the Hogwarts Express. Well, Dudley will take the Hogwarts Express to school. I will then take you to where you'll be studying magic."
"Thank you. Just…well…I'll begin my education later on. I have a lot to take care of. There will be a funeral and the reading of the will. I'll need to be here, to take care of our affairs first. Oh, Kingsley is there any way that you could send word to Harry about all of this? I mean before the sorting. I don't want this just dropped into his lap without the whole story."
"I will see what I can do about that. Would you like to come along and see Dudley off? I will bring you right back here."
"Okay…sure…that will be fine. Kingsley, you are more than welcome to stay the night. You don't have to leave; it makes sense for you to stay. If you do you won't have to get up so early to come get us to see Dudley off to school."
"I appreciate the offer Petunia. I do have things to care of before then. I will see both of you in the morning." Kingsley turned on the spot and disappeared from sight.
Kingsley arrived at number four Privet Drive early the following morning. He received special permission to use a Ministry car. The ride was smooth and very quiet. It didn't seem to be a long ride to Kings Cross Station; it seemed to take less time than it had when Harry had first taken the train to school. Kingsley parked the car, went to get a cart for Dudley's trunk and owl. Kingsley pushed the cart as Petunia and Dudley followed him inside. Once they reached the barrier between platforms nine and ten, Dudley looked up at his mum a little scared. Petunia tried to give Dudley a reassuring smile but it came out as a grimace, she quickly looked at Kingsley.
"I don't remember how to…it's been so long since Lily."
"Not to worry. Usually, you just walk straight at the barrier here, between platforms nine and ten. First time through most are nervous or even a little scared so they take it at a bit of a run. We will be going through differently than that. There aren't many people here so it would be obvious if we walked or ran at the barrier."
They leisurely walked toward the barrier. Kingsley pretended to be looking over their tickets. He held on to the cart and leaned against the barrier. Petunia and Dudley did the same thing. The next thing Petunia and Dudley knew they saw a scarlet steam engine waiting next to a platform that was fairly full of people. When they looked up they saw a sign that read: Hogwarts Express, eleven o'clock. Petunia looked back towards the barrier and saw a wrought-iron archway with a sign just above it that read: Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
Kingsley helped Dudley with his trunk and owl. Dudley quickly stepped off the train and have his mum a hug. Petunia looked down into Dudley's scared face.
"It's going to be fine. My sister did this for seven years and Harry has been doing this for two years, or well for three years. Have good term. Oh, Dudley remember we are going by the last name of Evans."
Dudley nodded his head and climbed back onto the train. He gave one last look at his mum and then found his way to a compartment to sit in.
Kingsley and Petunia left the platform for Privet Drive.
"I can't believe we're running so late. C'mon. Everyone hurry." Said a nerve wracked Mrs. Weasley.
Mrs. Weasley, Percy, Fred, George, Ginny, Ron, Harry, Hermione and Sirius were all nearly running through the train station. They quickly went through the barrier, three at a time. Once through they quickly said their good-byes and references about Easter and Christmas. The train whistle blew shrilly and all the kids scrambled to the train, loaded their trunks and animals and climbed on. The train begun to move before they went looking for compartments.
Percy headed to the Prefects compartment to meet the head girl and to instruct the new Prefects on what was expected of them. Fred and George went in search for their friend Lee Jordan. Harry, Ginny, Hermione and Ron found an empty compartment and took it. For Harry it was a little strange no to see Remus in the compartment like the first time.
"That was too close."
"Well, Ron maybe next time you'll get up the first time you're told." Said Hermione firmly.
Harry and Ginny looked at each other and smiled.
Harry and Dudley did not see each other the whole train ride. Neither left the compartment each had been in. Dudley was trying to seem at ease. He did not know what he should to say others. He and Harry had never discussed the wizarding world; they had never had any decent discussion or talks. Dudley was really nervous, he didn't know how well he would be accepted. He knew that usually when someone would be first going to Hogwarts they would be eleven though occasionally one would be twelve. Being that he was thirteen and just now going to Hogwarts made him feel a little uneasy. He hoped to see Harry soon and have a chance to talk to him.
Harry was having fun talking about everything from how to best get Draco and his 'body gaurds' to the holiday's and where he would be spending them. He was curious about how the new term would be like. Sirius had been found innocent and was freed and he wasn't taking Divination. He was ready to face the unknown, or at least he thought he was.
In five minutes the Hogwarts Express would be arriving at Hogsmead Station so those that had not yet put on their robes did so now as quickly as possible.
The train came to a stop, people were leaving their compartments and stepping off the train into a cold, drizzling night.
As Harry and his friends de-boarded the train they could hear the familiar voice of Hagrid calling the first years. Harry looked over his shoulder and waved. With so many people around Harry did not see Dudley among the first years.
"Harry, come on."
"I'm coming Ginny."
Harry climbed into the stagecoach he had seen long red hair disappear into. He looked around and saw that Fred, George, Ron and Hermione were there. Harry took a seat across from Ginny.
Not long after the coach started down the lane Hogwarts came into view. The coach stopped and they all climbed out. They had just entered the inside of the castle when Harry noticed Severus standing there waiting.
"Potter!"
"Yes, Professor."
"The Headmaster asked me to give you this." Severus said as he thrust the scroll of parchment into Harry's hand.
Harry quickly unrolled the scroll of parchment and read it just as quickly as he unrolled it. Ron and Hermione read it over his shoulders.
"What does it say?" Asked Ginny.
"Dumbledore wants to talk to me after the feast."
"Gumdrops?" Asked Ron.
"It's the password to get past the gargoyle to Dumbledore's office."
The four of them walked inside the dinning hall, weaved their way through to the Gryffindor table. Ron and Hermione sat across from Harry and Ginny. The dinning hall was full of soft taking and whispering and fell silent as the doors opened and McGonagall came striding though followed by the first years. Harry wasn't paying attention to the first years walking past or to the sorting. He couldn't take his eyes off of Ginny. Though he did hear that Mercedes Johnson being sorted into Ravenclaw and John Jameson sorted into Hufflepuff. When hearing "Black, Violet" being called he looked up at the front of the hall as the sorting hat yelled out "GRYFFINDOR".
Harry lost interest and resumed thinking about a possible future life with Ginny. Several more were sorted into houses not that Harry noticed, he didn't look up or seem to be aware of where he was until he heard McGonagall call out "Evans, Dudley."
Harry coughed and gasped. He looked up at the front of the hall and sure enough there sat Dudley on the stool waiting for the hat to sort him into a house. Harry quickly chanced a glance at Severus. Their eyes met and briefly held. Both had confused expressions on their faces, they looked at Dumbledore who was calm and collected as always. In his shock and confusion he barely caught that his cousin was sorted into Slytherin.
"Harry…"
"Hermione don't. We'll talk later. I promise."
Harry didn't hear the rest of the sorting. He was confused as to why Dudley would be at Hogwarts and sorted into a house. He was also nervous and a little worried. He never had a peaceful moment around his cousin. He had always enjoyed going to Hogwarts, as his cousin was not there. Harry really began to think about how things were going to turn out now. Before he could think or wonder more Dumbledore had stood up and cleared his throat.
"Welcome new students. Welcome back everyone else. I have a few things to tell you before we begin the feast. The first is very serious as this year Hogwarts will be playing host to some of the Azkaban guards, Dementors. This past summer a murderer, Peter Pettigrew, was seen in Hogsmead. The Ministry of Magic would like to quickly catch Peter Pettigrew and have him tried for the offences he committed. Since he was seen so close to the school, the Ministry ordered the dementors to guard all entrances into the school. I warn you not to give them any reason to harm you. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks, disguises or even invisibility cloaks. It is not in their nature to understand pleading or excuses. They do not forgive."
Harry shuddered at the thought of having to deal with dementors again in his third year.
Dumbledore cleared his throat again, "On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers. First Professor Lupin has consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts."
A fairly load round of applause broke out. Severus gave Lupin a look of utter and complete loathing.
"Secondly, Professor Kettleburn decided to retire last year and I am proud to say that Care of Magical Creatures will be taken by none other than our very own Rubeus Hagrid."
A warm round of applause came from a small group at the Gryffindor table.
"I believe that is all. Tuck in."
Harry barely ate anything, he mostly picked at his food. He didn't even notice the worried looks on Ron and Ginny's faces as they glanced at Hermione. Every time they would glance at her, she'd shake her head from side to side.
The sound of forks and knives scraping on plates began to die out as the chatter begun to rise. Dumbledore stood up and silence fell through out the dinning hall.
"Now that we are full of food and drink, off to bed."
Harry followed everyone out of the dinning hall in a haze and was about to climb the stairs with his fellow students when he felt someone's hand on his arm stopping him.
"What?"
"Dumbledore wanted to speak with you after the feast." Ron reminded Harry.
"Oh…yeah…thanks Ron." Harry turned around and headed off to Dumbledore's office.
He reached the gargoyle and just above a whisper muttered the password. The gargoyle leaped aside revealing a door in the wall. As the door slid open Harry could see a revolving, spiral staircase. He quickly stepped up onto a step as it continued to move in an upward spiral.
The staircase came to a stop, Harry leaped off the step he was on and took two steps toward the door when he heard the raised voices of Dumbledore and Fudge.
"I have been telling you that Harry Potter needs to be moved for two years."
"Dumbledore, you must understand that at the time it was crucial he stay with them. The blood wards you placed to keep him safe…the protection the wards gave the boy. Also at the time it seemed to be an over reaction of the boy. Must I remind you that he did find a way to get food? I had no idea of all the other stuff that was happening until recently…"
"If you had investigated you would have known. I have had to be cruel and unconcerned about Harry's welfare because of you insisting that Harry stay with the Dursley's."
"Things have changed Albus. I have received other information. I was ready to have the boy moved to a secure location. I found out that it was the boy's Uncle who was mistreating him. As I told you when I first arrived, that situation is no longer present. His Aunt and cousin, we now know are a witch and wizard. Unfortunately they have gone undetected for too long…"
"That would be the Ministry's fault. Some of it is your fault. You should have discovered the problem when you first took office. Do you realize how much of a fall out there will be? For the first time ever in Hogwarts history we will have to turn away young witches and wizards who want and should learn about their magic. Not too mention all the adults who were undetected. The adult school we have here is not big enough to handle this."
"I have been in contact with Madam Maxime and Karkaroff. I have explained the situation to them and they are willing to take in the over flow. I have also been in contact with the other wizarding schools around the world and they also are willing to take in the over flow. Several of the schools have plenty of room others were on the verge of closure due to low attendance."
"Well, if you people in the Ministry had been keeping on top of things, this would not be happening."
Harry didn't hear anymore as he could hear sounds from behind him. He turned around to see Severus and Dudley standing there.
"Are you going to stand there Potter? Or are you going to make your presence known?"
Instead of saying what he though of, Harry turned back around and knocked on the door. Seconds later the door opened. Fudge had a faint purple tinge to his face. Dumbledore did not look the normal calm as always.
"Good evening Cornelius. I have an appointment with Harry, Dudley and Severus."
"This conversation is not over!"
"Oh I think it is. I have nothing further to say to you and you have nothing more to say to me that I am willing to hear, that is to say on the subjects we just discussed."
Fudge nearly knocked Harry over as he stormed from Dumbledore's office.
"Come in. Everyone, come in."
Harry entered the office followed by Severus and Dudley. All three took a seat in front of Dumbledore's desk.
"Harry, I assume you heard a great deal of the conversation I had with the Minister."
"I did, but the only thing I understood was that you were only forcing me to go to Privet Drive because of Fudge."
"I apologize for that Harry. Had I known the extent of what was happening there I would have done something about it. There are a few things that you do not know about, things that happened at Privet Drive."
"Like what?"
"Dudley, would like to fill Harry in? Or would you rather I did?"
"Y-you can."
"Before I get into what you have not been aware of, one of us in this room needs to know what you already know." Dumbledore looked at Severus, "Aside from Harry being deprived of food, his Uncle has also tried to drown Harry on more than one occasion. More than once Harry was dropped off in bad neighborhoods to find his own way home and was almost stabbed by his Uncle."
Severus paled and looked from Dumbledore to Harry and back several times.
"As for what you, Harry, and Severus do not know. Harry, your Uncle went as far as to poison you."
Harry's eyes were huge, his face paled as he swallowed. He wasn't really shocked or surprised that his Uncle had tried to do that. It was a bit shocking to hear it. Harry was a little afraid to hear what else happened.
Severus was furious, he had a frown on his face, breathing fast and heavy and his nostrils flared.
"Severus, calm down. There is nothing to worry about any more."
"Where is Vernon Dursley? Where is Petunia Dursley? Did she know about all of this?" Growled Severus.
"Petunia was only aware of Harry being deprived of food. The rest she did not know about." Dumbledore turned so that he was mostly facing Harry and continued, "As it turns out your Aunt had been doing her best to try and get food to you. Your Uncle caught her several times and hit her for it. One of the time resulted in your Aunt having a broken arm. All of this did not stop her from trying to help you. One night your Aunt snuck into your room to check on you. She was really disturbed seeing you so thin, so she went down to the kitchen and rounded up some food for you. When she reached the top of the stairs, your Uncle was there watching her. He pushed her so hard that she fell backwards down the stairs. After that she was very terrified of your Uncle.
Your Aunt hoped that you would have told someone what was happening and that you would be removed from the house. Harry, your Aunt really does love you. She feels so bad about everything."
"With all of this out there now, do I have to go back there? Hold on. How do you know all of this?"
"Your Aunt and Dudley told Mafalda Hopkirk and then the Minister, who told me today."
"Is there going to be some kind of protection for my Aunt and Dudley? They can't go back there! My Uncle…"
"Was in a car accident that cause him to have a heart attack and he did not survive. The three of you are safe from him."
Severus was part relieved that no one would have to suffer the cruelty of Vernon Dursley. A part of him was also disappointed, as he would have liked to have taken care of Vernon himself.
"Dumbledore, I still don't understand how my Aunt and Dudley are a witch and wizard."
"Oh, yes. There is an enchantment that detects young witches and wizards, no matter if they were Muggle born or born to magical families. This enchantment is supposed to be strengthened and reinforced every fifty years. This has not been done in over two hundred years. Your Aunt and cousin have been undetected, they do have magical cores. Something happened one night and both your Aunt and cousin performed magic. As for the story of what happened that night, well I am sure that Dudley would like to tell the tale on that. Severus and I will leave the room so that the two of you can have some private time to talk." Dumbledore got up and practically dragged Severus out of the office.
After Dumbledore and Severus left Harry looked at Dudley and stared for a while. He did not know what to say to Dudley.
"Harry, I'm really sorry for everything mean I did to you. The times I was really horrible, my dad did leave you alone. I saw him hit my mum. I was so afraid of my dad Harry. I didn't know what to do. Like my mum I hoped that you would tell someone and that you wouldn't have to return to the house. Is there any possible chance that you could forgive me?"
"I'll think about it."
"I'll do anything."
"So you were sorted into Slytherin."
"Yeah."
"I'm in Gryffindor. Gryffindor's and Slytherin's are like me and Aunt Marge."
Dudley cringed in his seat.
"It's rumored that Slytherin produces more dark witches and wizards. But I don't agree. You heard what Dumbledore said about Peter Pettigrew before the feast?"
"Yeah."
"Well, he was in Gryffindor with my parents. They thought he was a friend, someone they could trust. Well he betrayed them out to a half-blooded git, who dubbed himself Lord Voldemort. Pettigrew told Voldemort where my family lived. Voldemort killed my parents. Pettigrew killed about a dozen Muggles, non magic people, the killings were blamed on my Godfather, Sirius Black."
Dudley gasped, "W-wasn't he in Azkaban?"
"He was, but has since been found innocent and released."
"So Slytherin has a bad reputation. Since I am in Slytherin will I…"
"No you won't go to the dark side just for being in Slytherin. A person's choices depict who he or she will be."
"Is there anyone I should be wary of?"
"There are quite a few that I don't get along with. But I am no going to tell you who you can and can't be friends with. But, please be careful what you tell people about your parents. Most Slytherin's don't take to kindly to people who don't have magical parents or grand parents and so on.
If anyone asks just explain that your mum didn't go to any magical school around here. After your parents got married your dad changed. Say he was from a powerful wizarding family but had no magic and resented everyone that did have magic. By the time your mum found out that he lied about having magic when he didn't it was too late. Tell them that he did not allow magic to be used, especially in his house. Then when you were born and came of age to attend Hogwarts he refused to let you attend any magical school. But now that he has died you are finally able to attend.
Oh, and whatever you do, DO NOT tell anyone that we are related. Everyone knows that I live with my only family and to their knowledge they are Muggles. I'll do my best to keep my friends from being extremely horrid to you, so don't take anything personally, and in return I ask you to not be extremely horrid to me. Okay?'
"Okay." Dudley said as he shook hands with Harry.
"Oh, Draco Malfoy is not as bad as he seems. He will say things that will probably make you mad but don't let it bother you, you can't let it bother you. Deep down he really is an okay person. Draco has been raised with a warped view of how the wizarding world should be. He believes what his family believes, it has been in a way branded into his existence."
"What should I do about him?"
"I'm not telling you what to do or what you should do about anyone. That is up to you. I suggest that you try and be friends with Draco. I think that he could use an un-biased friend, a real friend. It's your choice though. You can act on my suggestion or not. It's up to you. So, how did you and Aunt Petunia discover that both of you can do magic?"
Dudley explained about the robbery in progress when they arrived home, how Mafalda showed up and what happened after she showed up. Harry, couldn't help it, he laughed but abruptly stopped when Dudley reached the part of how his Uncle reacted at the discovery of them being magical.
"Dudley, I know how cruel and in-humane he was and I have to say that I am thrilled that he is gone. Especially now knowing that I wasn't the only person that suffered his cruelty, but don't get me wrong I know that you loved him and that your mum loved him too. I know it must have hurt both of you when he said…" Harry couldn't finish what he was saying as he could see the pain in Dudley's eyes. "If you ever need or want to talk, send a note with your owl. Your owl will find me. I will do my best to arrange a time and place that we can meet and talk without anyone knowing as soon as I can." Harry gave Dudley a huge bear hug and said softly, "It's okay to cry Dudley. It's okay to be sad about your dad after all you did love him. Love is strong and powerful. To be able to love shows that you have a heart and that you are human. Love can even save a life." Harry let go of Dudley.
"Love?" Scoffed Dudley.
"When Voldemort killed my parents, he was after me. My parents refused to get out of his way. Their love for me protected me, their love saved my life."
Dudley nodded so that Harry would know that he understood.
Before either one could mutter another word the office door opened, Dumbledore and Severus walked in.
"There will be plenty of time for the two of you to talk more. It's late. Severus will escort Dudley to the Slytherin common room. I will escort you to the Gryffindor common room."
Harry and Dudley nodded and followed Dumbledore and Severus out of the office. When they reached the point of going their separate ways, for the night, Harry looked at Dudley and said, "See you around Big D."
Dudley smiled and followed Severus down to the dungeons and to the Slytherin common room.
Harry walked along side Dumbledore all the way to Gryffindor tower. Dumbledore woke the fat lady and explained why Harry was arriving so late and requested that she let Harry in. She swung the portrait forward to let Harry enter.
"Good night Harry."
"Good night Professor."
Harry walked through the portrait to find Ron, Hermione and Ginny sitting near the fire place, waiting. Though he was tired, he told them everything that he had discussed with Dumbledore, Snape and Dudley. Once he was finished he excused himself to bed.
A/N: Thank you so much Tala Prince for being my sounding board.
Hehehe…since it has been a while since I updated I though that you all could use a nice long chapter. It's not likely that this will happen again.
Reviews motivate me to update and post chapters faster. Please review.
