I don't own anything. This story is set in Harry's 6th year
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Chapter 1: The Invitation
The Great Hall buzzed with the usual energy of dinnertime at Hogwarts. The golden light from the enchanted ceiling cast a warm glow over the long tables, where students laughed and chatted over steaming plates of food. Harry Potter sat at the Gryffindor table, sandwiched between Ron and Hermione, idly picking at a pile of mashed potatoes.
"Honestly, Ron, you're going to choke one day," Hermione said, eyeing him with a mixture of annoyance and amusement as he stuffed another roll into his mouth.
"Worth it," Ron said through a mouthful of bread, earning a laugh from Harry.
"How's your essay for Potions coming along, Harry?" Hermione asked, turning her attention to him.
Harry shrugged. "Barely started. I'll finish it tomorrow."
Hermione sighed but didn't press the issue. Before she could launch into another lecture about time management, the soft chime of a spoon against glass rang out, silencing the hall. All eyes turned to the staff table, where Professor Dumbledore had risen to his feet, his long silver beard gleaming in the candlelight.
"Good evening, students," Dumbledore began, his voice carrying effortlessly across the hall. "I have a most delightful announcement to share with you tonight. In these dark times, we recognize the importance of giving our students an opportunity to spend precious moments with their families. I am pleased to announce something that I hope will become a new Hogwarts tradition: Family Day." Dumbledoor finished with a twinkle in his eye.
A wave of murmurs swept through the hall as students exchanged curious glances.
"This Saturday, we will open our doors to your loved ones, allowing them to experience a glimpse of the magic that shapes your lives here at Hogwarts. Invitations have been sent automatically to all families. We hope to see as many of them as possible join us for this special occasion. Special accommodations will be made for those with muggle family members, ensuring they can safely and comfortably enjoy the day alongside their magical loved ones."
Harry's stomach sank. Family Day? The thought of the Dursleys stepping foot in Hogwarts was absurd. He exchanged a quick look with Ron and Hermione, who both seemed equally surprised by the announcement.
"Well, that's… unexpected," Harry said, his brow furrowed. "You would think that they would give us more notice"
"Unexpected?" Hermione muttered. "They only announced this now? It's so last minute! What if families can't make it on such short notice? It's like they're assuming everyone can drop everything for Hogwarts."
Ron shrugged, grabbing another roll. "If the Burrow got an invite, Mum will be here even if she has to Floo in through a hurricane. She'd never miss a chance to fuss over us in front of everyone." He paused, looking thoughtful. "I wonder if Charlie or Bill will show up. Maybe even Percy… though I doubt it."
Harry tuned out the chatter, his thoughts drifting to the Dursleys. He doubted they'd even open the envelope. The idea of Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia trying to navigate Hogwarts—with Dudley in tow, no less—was so ridiculous that he almost laughed. Almost. But the announcement had stirred an uncomfortable knot in his stomach. What if, by some miracle, they did come? Did he even want them to?
"Do you think the dursleys will come?" Hermione asked hesitantly.
"Could be interesting if they did," Ron said with a grin. "Can you imagine your uncle Vernon trying to talk to McGonagall? He'd probably faint."
Harry snorted despite himself. "They won't come," he said firmly. "They'll just ignore the invitation."
"You don't know that," Hermione said, ever the optimist. "Maybe they'll surprise you."
Harry shook his head, pushing his plate away. "I doubt it."
The following days passed in a blur of classes, Quidditch practice, and the usual Hogwarts chaos. Harry had nearly forgotten about Family Day until he saw the enchanted banner appear in the Great Hall. It floated above the staff table, its sparkling letters proclaiming, "Welcome to Family Day!"
Harry groaned inwardly. It was happening tomorrow. He tried to ignore the growing excitement among his classmates, many of whom were eagerly discussing their families' arrivals. Even Luna Lovegood's dreamy voice carried across the hall as she told Neville about her father's plans to attend.
"Are you sure they won't come?" Hermione asked later that evening as they sat in the common room. She was knitting yet another hat for the house-elves, though Harry doubted any of them actually wore them.
"Positive," Harry said firmly. "I'll just use the day to catch up on homework."
Ron snorted. "That's the saddest thing I've ever heard."
Xxxxxxxx
Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you'd expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn't hold with such nonsense. Which is why, when Petunia Dursley came across a yellowed envelope with a Hogwarts seal on it, she shrieked and dropped it as though it were a live snake.
"Vernon!" she hissed, marching into the kitchen. "It's one of there letters."
Vernon, halfway through buttering a slice of toast, turned a deep shade of purple. "What do they want now?" he bellowed. "We've done our part, haven't we? Raising the boy? Feeding him? Putting up with his… abnormality?"
"It's an invitation," Petunia said, barely able to keep the disgust out of her voice. "To some… some Family Day thing at that school of his."
"Absolutely not," Vernon growled, snatching the letter from her hands. "We're not going to that madhouse! We've washed our hands of that freakishness."
He crumpled the letter and tossed it into the bin with a flourish, as though ending the matter entirely.
Dudley, who had been hovering in the doorway, watched the exchange with a curious expression. After a moment, he stepped into the kitchen. "What about Harry's school." he said sounding uninterested.
"Nothing for you to worry about, Dudders," Vernon said, his tone softening as he turned to his son. "It's just more of their freakish nonsense."
Dudley shrugged, indifferent. "whatever" he said, but there was a flicker of something in his voice, a hesitation he didn't quite understand. He grabbed a soda from the fridge and left the room, but his parents' words lingered in his mind.
Up in his room, Dudley sat on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the television. His fingers drummed against his knee, and he found his thoughts returning to that blasted letter. It wasn't the school he cared about—he had made sure of that. But Harry... Dudley hadn't thought much about his cousin in the last year, but now he couldn't shake the image of Harry's face the last time he'd seen him. He'd looked tired, yes, but there had been something else—a sadness, a kind of resignation that made Dudley's stomach twist uncomfortably. It wasn't like Harry had ever asked for sympathy, but that look had stuck with him, a reminder of all the things he'd never said.
"It's not like I care or anything," Dudley muttered to himself, though the words rang hollow. He turned up the volume on the television, trying to drown out his thoughts. Yet, the more he tried to ignore it, the heavier the knot in his chest grew.
"It's not like I care or anything," Dudley muttered to himself, fiddling with the remote. He turned up the volume on the television, the sound of the program blaring in the background, but it didn't help. His mind kept circling back to the letter and the things Harry had said about his world—the dangerous creatures, the magical school, and the battles he faced. He remembered how Harry spoke about it, a mixture of frustration and pride, like he belonged to something bigger.
The more Dudley thought about it, the more he recalled his own brief, strange experiences with magic. The pig tail he got from that giant hairy man, the time his tongue tripled in size because of those redheads. A part of him was curious, wondering what good Harry saw in that world. What good came from magic? Finally, with a frustrated huff, he crept down the stairs toward the kitchen. His footsteps were soft, but his heart thudded loudly in his chest as he approached the bin.
He hesitated, staring at the crumpled letter nestled among scraps of discarded paper and food wrappers. For a moment, he almost turned back. What did it matter? Why did he want anything to do with that freakishness? But something—an irritating, nagging voice at the back of his mind—pushed him forward.
Dudley reached in and pulled out the letter, smoothing the creases with clumsy fingers. His eyes scanned the elegant handwriting:
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Dursley,
We are pleased to invite you and your family to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for our inaugural Family Day event. This special occasion is an opportunity for families to visit our school, meet the staff, and experience a glimpse of the magic that shapes the lives of your loved ones.
Date: This Saturday
Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Location: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Accommodations have been arranged to ensure the comfort and safety of all attendees, including those unfamiliar with magic. Transportation details will be provided upon acceptance of this invitation. To accept or decline please write your response on the back of this letter.
We sincerely hope you will join us for this memorable day and look forward to welcoming you to our school.
Warm regards,
Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Dudley lingered over the words "Family Day" and "magical community," his mind swirling. Why had they even sent this to the Dursleys? Did Harry… want him there? The idea seemed absurd, yet he couldn't shake it. Folding the letter carefully, he slipped it into his pocket, leaning against the counter in the dimly lit kitchen. The familiar hum of the refrigerator filled the silence, and Dudley's thoughts raced. He wasn't sure what he'd say to Harry or why he even wanted to go. But for some reason, the thought of ignoring this… didn't sit right.