Author's Note: Thank you from the bottom of my heart to @The Symbol of Faith for providing a helpful betaread for this story!
Dudley Dursley was given a perfect childhood. Everything went his way, and everyone did what he wanted.And yet, a strange uncomfortableness always lingered underneath. It slithered through his mind, always ready to strike.
An unrelenting sadness.
He was a husband and a father now, and he couldn't allow this feeling to take control. He loved his dad, but the man was an unsuitable father.
It took some time for him to realize the old thin man—the wizard—who showed up on his family's doorstep to warn them was right about many things.
First, the danger, which he was very luckily spared from.
The second thing the wizard was right about was his parents.
He had thought it so absurd, that his parents were the cause of this distress boiling inside of him. Wouldn't the source of his discontent be the people who he hated? The ones who didn't give him everything he wanted? Wasn't that obvious? He knew better now. That wizard, Dumbledore, was right.
He knew he had to be different from his dad. He didn't want to neglect his daughter, nor could he if he tried. He was happy to have his family and he loved his daughter. Just because his cousin turned out alright, a hero even, doesn't mean he thought neglecting children produced heroes.
He knew he had to be different from his dad. He didn't want to neglect his daughter, nor could he if he tried. He was happy to have his family and he loved his daughter. Just because his cousin turned out alright, a hero even, doesn't mean he thought neglecting children produced heroes.
Nor could he spoil her.
If he hadn't lived the life of a spoiled child, he wouldn't have learned how harmful it was.
Despite the poor parenting style, he still loved his parents very much. He visited with them to talk through his feelings; they were very remorseful. He knew they didn't mean any harm and it was easy to forgive them.
It was a good decision to leave their home to make his own. Around his family, the easy access to finances would have tempted him to spoil his firstborn. He might have married a woman his mother chose and he never would've learned about himself and how to find life worth living.
Dudley nudged a loose piece of pavement remembering the things that led him to his decision.
Dudley's newfound faith in his cousin had led them to safety, or that was what Dedalus Diggle had said. An involuntary smile spread on his face at the thought of the man, the wizard, who stayed and protected his family through a very tough year.
His phobia of wizards had softened while corresponding with Mr. Diggle. Mr. Diggle wrote to him once a month without fail, with the effort of using the normal method. Wizards alternatively mailed by using owls and without Dudley even having to ask for it, Dedalus made the long walk from his home to the nearest post office to keep in touch.
He was a kind man.
Harry, his cousin, was like that. Harry forgave all the things he and his parents put him through to save them. He could have very well just left Dudley and his family none the wiser, and the Dursleys, come to find out, would have been attacked immediately.
Maybe killed.
Maybe worse.
"Dudley…. Diddykins, why do you keep taking so much from us? You gorge yourself like a pig. Pitiful. You will always be alone. You keep chasing happiness but can't find any, can you? Such a waste of space, you should just die—"
The voices caused by the Dementors echoed forevermore in his mind and sent a shiver down his spine. He shook away the shiver and the memory. The chill seemed to linger inside him for months after the attack so many years ago and every time he randomly felt cold, he was terrified that they were coming again. He couldn't see the Dementors like Harry could, so without him, he couldn't know if he was being attacked again.
Dedalus mentioned Harry in his latest letter, but Dudley couldn't pick up the courage to write back. His shame had built a wall between the two of them and he just didn't have it in him to end the awkward silence, but he wouldn't leave it that way. He knew the importance of working through that, and eventually, he'd invite Harry and his family to dinner since traveling for himself would be rather expensive. Surely Harry could magic himself and his family over to America… whenever he got the nerve to get in touch. First, hopefully, he would have the courage to write back to Dedalus.
He frowned at the shady youths loitering in the distance. His presence was the only thing keeping them at bay for the moment. He was surprised they hadn't turned around and left at the sight of him. Years spent in sports like wrestling and, later, rugby presented him with an intimidating figure. Private security and clubs saw a great hiring investment but the mirror showed him a beast.
His wife never agreed, and he knew he couldn't let those thoughts control him either.
Here in America, he found her. They met at a bar he was a door security for. She handed him her I.D. and then a slip of paper with her number.
At first, she seemed shallow, merely interested in his exotic British accent and muscles. She once said he was an intriguing person, that she liked the mystery. She wasn't shallow, she just wanted something different.
They married and she gave birth.
That was another topic in Mr. Diggle's letter. Dedalus wanted to warn Dudley to look out for signs.
Nella turned six a week ago, and the financial burden had not once caused any regret in the household; the marriage was restful. Dedalus said he had at least a year to prepare, in case she was like his cousin.
Magic.
He was very integrated with American society and he didn't want to ruin it by crossing a bridge before he got there. Tiffany could remain in the dark for nine more months.
Gravel grated against his boots but his eyes never left the dodgy characters across the parking lot until he felt a vibration in his chest pocket. He pulled his ringing cell out and caught the name Tiffany before sliding the green icon up and trying not to fumble his phone.
"Tiff! Are you alright? You don't usually—"
Her stressed voice was nearly audible across the lot. It was an emergency and he needed to come home immediately. Something was wrong with their daughter. The teenagers waited for him to drive off in a panic before defacing the gate.