FasterFuriouser: Your take on the previous chapter def works! Rachel has her strengths and she knows it's not fighting (yet) so she using her smarts and abilities in other ways. And yes, she might just become on par with Athena…

Listening to: Crown by NEFFEX

It was five PM when Percy approached the twins and announced, "Harry, you are officially invited to Camp Jupiter and New Rome (again) to discuss the necklace of Metis."

Harry grimaced. He should have expected this to befall him sooner rather than later. "So, I need to find Dudley?"

"Yup."

"No alternative?"

"Nope."

"... can we just buy a new ancient necklace?"

Percy grinned. "I wish. But, c'mon! If he ran away from home, that means he doesn't like Petunia. Or he realised she's absolutely insane. He might even wanna help us."

"Fat chance," Harry mumbled.

Rachel nudged his foot. "Petunia said he still goes to school. Let's wait for him there again. If we see Dudley this time, we'll just chat quickly. I can do all the talking."

Harry finally relented.

They apparated to Smeltings campus. The private school was an old red-brick-style building with a modest ground space and several students milling about. They wore pressed maroon tailcoats over their uniforms and carried books or bags. Percy, Harry, and Rachel stuck out like sore thumbs.

The January semester had just begun and they noticed the grumpy and stressed expressions on the others. The place was nothing like Hogwarts, but watching kids in uniform grouping together to study and just hang out was a nice distraction.

"I miss being a student," Harry sighed.

"Can't relate," Percy replied. "Dud's a six footer. We won't miss him."

"Especially in these uniforms," Rachel said, holding back a giggle.

Surprisingly, they actually spotted him in time.

And shockingly, Dudley was talking to a tall girl outside the gates. She was not in uniform, rather flaunting a dark crop top and a camo. They walked together to a sleek, black sports car parked off the road. Rachel figured it was a Ferrari. Older model but well-serviced.

"No way," Harry breathed. "Dudley's talking to a girl!"

"Maybe she's a mirage?" Percy muttered.

Rachel glared at them. "Do you have to be so mean? She might be his friend."

"You don't know him like we do, Rach."

Despite him being tall and built like a boxer, this girl towered over him, thanks to her boots and large afro. Dudley swung his bag into the car. They jumped in and the girl drove away, speeding in the wide concrete lanes like she'd had a lot of practice drifting.

"Damn," Rachel said. "Nice wheels."

Percy was flabbergasted. "What did we just watch?"

"I think," Harry whispered, as though he'd seen Voldemort do the hula-hoop. "I think… Dudley is cool."

They followed the car.

By the time the sun set, Harry was slowly getting over his shock. Dudley had willingly cut ties with his parents. He still went to school. He had a fashionable friend who owned a sports car.

And now, Harry, Percy, and Rachel were standing outside a large fence, watching from the shadows as the girl flashed a smile at the guards who then let her and Dudley through the gates of an immense outdoor party.

Neon lights flashed in the sky above. Music thumped from the speakers so hard, they could feel it in the ground, their shoes, and their chests. People were singing, screaming, and swearing.

"Maybe the Mist is showing this as a party," Percy said, his eyes wide.

Rachel rolled her eyes. She'd never spoken to Dudley before, but if he was this awesome, she'd love to know him. Finally, someone from the Evans family who wasn't a jerk.

They walked up to the guards who frowned down at the trio.

"Hi," Percy said and snapped his fingers. "You're gonna let us in."

The air picked up and the Mist flickered around the two men. They blinked, dazed.

"Sure," one of them said and opened the gates. "Have a good time."

"Awesome."

The music blared from all corners.

It was an open road party. Neon lights flashed from various stalls which sold the worst fried food that smelled from yards away. Dozens of people in ripped and scanty clothes milled around in groups, chatting and laughing. They drank vicariously, giggled and flirted, made out pretty badly in plain view of everyone and Harry could not believe Dudley was in a place that seemed so amazing.

"This place sucks!" Percy blurted.

"Are you kidding, this is great!" Harry yelled over the music.

"Can you see Dudley?" Rachel called. She was walking ahead, eyes scanning the vivid scenes.

It quickly became clear that the three of them stood out, being teens in what was clearly an adult rave. People began peering over to them, puzzled, but not sober enough to bother. Had Rachel actually been human, she might have veered away from such a place that didn't seem to have any internal security.

Thankfully, they spotted the black beauty from Smeltings. Rachel jogged over to the car, appreciating its sheen. Her reflection in the bonnet only added to its seduction.

Someone cleared her throat.

Rachel snatched her hands away from the car. "Er… hello, I'm Rachel Elizabeth Dare!"

It was the tall girl who'd driven away with Dudley. She was dark-skinned with bright tattoos on both arms that Rachel hadn't clocked before. Her judgmental stare was pretty hot and Rachel mentally applauded Dudley.

The girl frowned and spoke in a London central accent. "Rachel Dare? Have we met?"

Rachel heard Harry and Percy arrive behind her. She didn't look away from the girl. "I don't think so. But I know Dudley. I mean, my friends know Dudley. We're all family."

The girl's sharp eyes lingered over Harry and Percy. "Friends or family?"

"Both," Rachel said hopefully. "What's your name?"

She sighed. "Vera. And I am Dudley's friend. I know for a fact he knows nobody from 'cross the pond."

"I'm his cousin. We just dropped by to say hi," Harry said, poking his head from behind Rachel. Percy was still engrossed in the make and model of the car.

Vera folded her impressively tattooed arms. The detail was to die for. Rachel followed swirling patterns like wind lines from the top of her shoulder down to her elbows. Song lyrics were inked between the lines, pretty and gentle. Falling leaves were scattered over her skin resembling drying maple. The yellow, orange, red, and green colours stood out beautifully.

"How old are you lot?" she asked, snapping Rachel out of her observation.

"Eighteen," Rachel said.

Vera raised an eyebrow. "Are you Dudley's age?"

Rachel hesitated. Harry swooped in. "No, he's our younger cousin. The baby of the family."

Usually, Harry turned a little pink when he lied. Not this time. He seemed so straightforward that even Rachel was taken in.

Vera sighed. "Duds! Get over here, your fam's dropped by!"

The baby of the family walked from the food stalls, confused. Dudley was six-foot-three, taller than Ron, and built like two Clarisses and a Frank. He was munching on something from a plastic plate, his small watery eyes fixed on Rachel (in apprehension) before switching to Percy (in surprise).

Then he saw Harry.

Dudley stopped. He dropped his plate, the food scattering on the ground. He dropped himself, his huge body swaying before plummeting heavily to the ground.

Vera shrieked. Rachel leaped over the car's bonnet and caught Dudley before his head smacked the ground.

Harry and Percy rushed over as Rachel carefully lowered him down. Her palm cupped the back of his skull as her knuckles touched the smoothened gravel.

"Do you have first-aid?" Harry asked a shocked Vera.

Rachel could have carried him but figured that would be too much for the mortals to handle. She was less than half the size of Dudley and it would have been too confounding.

A bunch of guys hurried from the food stalls where Dudley had been mingling. They helped carry him to a long bench on the pavement. Someone bundled up a jacket under his head and a few others ran to get water and some food.

"He's been out of sorts all week," Vera whispered. "I knew something was wrong, but he wouldn't say what. I just thought his parents—"

She stopped in her tracks and frowned at Harry. "What did you say your name was?"

"Harry," he told her. "His mum's my aunt."

Vera straightened up. "Hold it! Did she send you?"

Rachel's eyes widened.

Percy waved his hands. "Oh no! We heard that Dudley fought with his parents, so we came over here to check on him."

"And who are you?"

"Ex-neighbour."

Vera fumed. She turned on Harry. "If you're family, then you'll know what his mother did!"

Harry nodded. "Yeah. She… she said some stuff…"

To Rachel and Harry's surprise, Percy clapped his shoulder and said, "I think Vera knows the truth, Harry."

They eyed him, confused. "Huh?"

He grew serious. "Vera, we know Dudley saw her shoot someone. Another cousin of his. He's okay now, he's out of the hospital."

Rachel held back a gasp. Dudley witnessed Petunia murdering Harry!

One of Dudley's friends ran up to them and handed Vera a mug full of piping hot tea. From the look of her face, the bloke ran away again. She certainly wasn't amused.

Vera scowled, asking, "I heard she received an arrest warrant?"

"We're not fully sure how that's going," Percy said quietly. "But, they're getting the family lawyer to press charges."

Dudley groaned, eyes still closed. He fidgeted on the bench, forehead crumpling. Harry backed out of his line of sight. Rachel and Vera shuffled closer.

"Dud?" Vera called gently. "Your cousins are here. Are you okay?"

Dudley blinked up at Rachel. He sat up gingerly. "I… think so. I just thought I saw—"

Harry had disappeared from sight, but Dudley was now staring at Percy.

"Um… Vera, can I tell you later?" he mumbled.

She nodded slowly. "Okay. Should I tell the others that you're leaving?"

Dudley grimaced. He asked Percy, "Am I leaving?"

Rachel and Percy shared a look.

"Let's just talk first, Big D," Percy said gently.

Vera handed him the mug of tea and left. It was just the three of them now.

The party raged on and the music thumped hard, but Rachel just watched Dudley closely. He looked like his father, with barely a hint of his mother's appearance other than the blue of his eyes. Unlike the sharp, brilliant eyes of Petunia, Dudley's was more subtle and flat.

He was holding the mug by the handle, his pinkie sticking out. She'd seen Harry do that. It was nice to notice a similarity.

Percy carefully explained who Rachel was, how Harry survived the gunshot, and why they'd gone to visit Petunia. Dudley watched the place, searching for Harry to pop back out but the wizard had left them alone.

"Wait," Dudley said, interrupting Percy's rambling speech. "You're my cousin?"

He was pointing at Rachel.

"Yeah. Harry and I are twins," she said, searching his expression for any familiarity.

Dudley only grew more puzzled. "He never told me that."

"He didn't know till Hagrid told him," Rachel said. "That was when Harry started going to Hogwarts. And I only met him when we were nearly fifteen."

Neither she nor Percy had any wish to rehash the battle of the labyrinth, so they pressed on.

"You're gonna drag me back home?" Dudley asked, looking pale.

"No," Rachel said, without even having to consider it. "Your mother asked us to find you, and we did. Technically, that ought to work—"

"Petunia's not some magical creature who has to stick to her words!" Harry said, just out of sight. He stood behind a bush next to the bench Dudley was on.

Dudley jumped, turning around to catch him, but Harry hid further into the leaves.

"You're alive!" he hissed. "You're alive, you pillock!"

Harry chuckled.

"I thought she'd murdered you!" Dudley swore.

"I didn't plan this, Dee," Harry said, stepping out of the bush.

Rachel leaned back, her eyes tracing the way the leaves curved around Harry's form. If she focused, she could tell that the plant was reaching out to him, sensing his magic.

But he was facing Dudley now. "We need a box, Big D. Any chance you can tell us where Aunt Petunia would have hidden it?"

Rachel brought out her phone and showed him a photo of the drawing she'd made. His small eyes came closer as he stared hard at the picture of the ancient jewellery box.

"I think Grandpa had something like that," Dudley finally said.

Harry frowned. "Who?"

"Mum's father."

"... our grandfather?"

Dudley blinked. "Yeah. I have no clue what happened to it after he died though."

Harry reeled. "You're talking about our grandfather?!"

"Yeah," Dudley said, nonplussed. "Technically, step-grandfather. Grandma remarried after her first husband died like before we were born… didn't you know?"

"In what world would your mother ever tell me that?" Harry asked heatedly.

Percy caught his hand and pulled him back. "Take a walk, dude."

"Why am I even surprised—"

"Harry," Percy insisted. "Get some air!"

Harry threw his hands in the air and marched away. Dudley watched him leave, eyes narrowed.

"Did I say something?" he asked and Rachel sighed.

"He's upset with someone else," she told him. "You're alright, Dudley. Can you tell us where our grandfather is now?"

Dudley grimaced. "Cardiff Western Cemetery."

"Okay, and you saw the box at his house?"

"Probably," he shrugged. "I saw a box at his house and it looked like this photo. I think he left it to Mum."

Percy grimaced. "So she does have it."

Dudley looked surprised. "Did you ask her?"

"Yes, but she wanted us to find you first."

He frowned. "Is it magic?"

"That's an understatement," Rachel mumbled.

Dudley only looked more confused. "She doesn't like anything magic. I thought she'd have been happy to get rid of it."

Percy glanced over at Harry, who was standing at a distance, hands on his hips, head tilted back to stare up at the night sky. His shoulders were tense.

"If she kept it," Dudley continued slowly, "she can't have told Dad... we need to get in and out when he's not at home. He'll throw a right fit otherwise."

"Then we'll be quick," Percy told Dudley. "You can help us. Would she keep it in the house or hide it somewhere else?"

Dudley shook his head, "If she didn't shove it off to Harry when she signed that adoption transfer paper… then I can't imagine her leaving it out of her sight."

The sun was setting the next day when they arrived at No. 4 Privet Drive.

It was hard to tell if Harry or Dudley was more apprehensive to be back. Rachel watched them carefully, realising that Petunia and Vernon had truly ruined something that could have been beautiful.

Their plan was simple. Rachel would distract Petunia with the box and Dudley would get some of his stuff from his room, the things he couldn't pack before. If Petunia resisted, Harry and Percy would search the house of the box while Rachel made sure she wouldn't leave the kitchen. They had promised Dudley they'd bring him back to Vera's house.

The little group walked past the empty garage and took stock of the primly kept garden and the perfectly painted shutters and walls of the Dursely house. Rachel took up the lead as Harry fell back. Percy clapped his hand on Dudley's bulky shoulder and smiled.

Dudley rang the doorbell.

Petunia threw open the door and hugged her son tightly, blubbering in tears.

"My Diddykins, you're back! Oh, thank goodness! Mummy was so worried!"

Dudley grimaced but patted her gently.

She pulled away and sniled sweetly at Rachel. She entirely ignored Harry and Percy.

"Your Dad will be over the moon to have you back," Petunia simpered, clutching Dudley's arm and pulling him into the house. "I'm making Glamorgan sausages! You love those, don't you?"

"Er, yes. But Mum—"

"I'm adding extra cheese to it, just the way you like it!"

"Mum," Dudley said, a little firmer. "You promised Rachel that box."

Petunia slowed down. She looked at Rachel, horrified. "You told him?!"

"Yes," Harry said, staring at the empty garage like he was scolding it. "Of course we told Dudley why we were kidnapping him from his friends and bringing him to this hellhole."

Petunia scowled at him. "I don't remember asking you to drop by."

"I don't remember asking you to shoot me in the head, but here we all are," Harry snapped.

Dudley and Percy flinched at the reminder. Rachel knew that neither Petunia nor Harry would descalate the situation themselves. She stepped in between them and said, "Aunty? Dudley's right, we kinda do need the box. Please?"

Petunia gripped Dudley's arm tightly. "Of course, dear. Come on in."

She allowed Dudley and Rachel to step in and slammed the door in Harry's face. Percy held onto Harry's arm to stop him from breaking down the door.

Rachel held back a sigh from the drama Petunia seemed intent on making. She saw Dudley watching the family photographs on the mantle above the fireplace.

He whispered, "She changed the order."

Rachel frowned. "Huh?"

"The photographs. Look."

Rachel didn't think much of it. The tall framed wedding photo was pushed to the back and the other frames were shifted around. The only reason Rachel knew they were moved was because of the dust lingering on some of them.

She recalled when Percy had told her how obsessive Petunia was about the things in her house. Everything else, the furniture, shelves, kitchen counter, island and wall photos, gleamed with perfection. The mantle was out of place, enough that even a newcomer could clock something off about it.

"It's right here," Petunia said leading her son and niece into the kitchen, ignoring the mantle. "You will stay for dinner, won't you, Rachel? I think Vernon would like to meet you."

Rachel shoved down her surprise. Petunia really thought Rachel would be fine with locking Harry and Percy outside the house? Dudley gave her a despairing look. He wasn't ready to stay here either.

"I'm in a hurry tonight, Aunt Petunia," Rachel said slowly. "Perhaps some other time…?"

"Of course, my dear," the woman chirped, even happier now. She pulled out a silver tea tray from a low shelf and offered it to Rachel.

Both Dudley and Rachel stared, confused. It was a flat and handled tray, highly polished to reflect the surroundings in a daze of silver shine.

"Um, Aunt Petunia? We were talking about that box, remember? The old metal jewellery box that your father Rhys Harri Evans left you?"

Petunia smiled. Rachel instantly recognised the look. It was the beginning of a smirk that Harry liked to make when he knew something that others didn't.

"It was a box when I saw it a few years ago," Petunia said loftily. "When my father took ill, he told me one of his daughter's friends hid it in the tray."

"Hid… hid the box in a tea tray?"

Petunia shoved the cool tray at Rachel. "I never used it, though it was my inheritance. But only on paper," she shook her head disparagingly. "It's yours, I suppose."

"But," Rachel said, fumbling with the shiny metal tray, "Who was it? D'you mean Lily's friend? Or—"

"An old neighbor," Petunia said dismissively. "It's your problem now. Diddy, shall I serve early?"

Dudley was gaping at the tray, open-mouthed. He didn't seem to hear his mother.

The door banged open and Harry and Percy rushed inside, both looking around wildly. Rachel nearly crushed the tray in her fumbling hands.

"We need to leave!" Harry gasped. "Where is it? Rach?"

Rachel dumbly held up the tea tray. Harry and Percy were flabbergasted.

Bright lights flashed in through the window.

Rachel winced and turned away as she heard a car engine wind down. Dudley stammered, "You said we'd be gone before he came back!"

"I didn't think she'd take this long!" Harry hissed.

Percy, who had been momentarily distracted by the dust on the mantle place, turned to Petunia. "We need that box, Mrs. Dursley! We're not serving tea to the gods!"

But even Petunia's smug superiority deteriorated at the sound of her husband's footsteps making its way up to the door. Rachel didn't understand it. Why did Vernon's presence seem to terrify all four of them? Surely, no one was worse than her.

The door opened and an immense man stepped in heavily. He was nearly as large as Dudley and certainly as tall. He towered over Harry and even Percy. Rachel gawked up at his stunned face as his small eyes took in the eclectic people spread out in the kitchen and living room of his house.

"YOU!" Vernon roared glowering at Harry.

Harry glared back but didn't say anything.

Vernon's face turned red and purple as his eyes fell on Percy and then Rachel. But he mellowed out when he saw Dudley trying to hide behind his mother.

"DUDDY BUDDY!" the man roared and charged across the house to embrace a wide-eyed Dudley.

Rachel stared down at the tray. Petunia's inheritance was a beautiful silver tea tray that probably cost a thousand pounds. But she was pretending it was the ancient jewellery box housing Metis's necklace?

Or she wasn't pretending.

Rachel stared at the strange reflection in the highly polished reflective surface. It wasn't her face that was staring back at it.

Okay, definitely creepy.

"We need to get him out," Percy whispered and Rachel wrenched her attention back to the room.

Percy was right. Dudley didn't want to be here. He had only come to help them get the box. But if Petunia was telling the truth… maybe the box was transfigured into the tray?

"I can Confound them," Harry said, his hand moving to his pocket.

Rachel looked up at the mantle place again. She observed the photographs.

"Okay!" Rachel said loudly, interrupting the Durselys' tearful reunion. "Dudley, you can head on upstairs."

Dudley managed to free himself from his parents' grip and dashed out of the room. Petunia and Vernon stared gobsmacked.

"Aunt Petunia, Mr. Dursley, I'm here to soften the blow. Dudley is choosing to return to his friends—"

"WHAT?!"

"... since he feels safer there than this house," Rachel said.

"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?" Vernon bellowed, his mustache quivering. He didn't seem to have an inside voice. Every word was a shout, blowing hot air in their direction.

"I'm Rachel Elizabeth Dare," Rachel said, watching as the big man marched up to her with his huge fists clenched. "I'm Harry's sister. It's nice to meet you, sir."

She held out her hand. Out of the corner of her eye, Rachel noticed Harry and Percy stiffen. They were ready for a real fight. Vernon didn't seem to be a fighter though. He was just steam, using his massive form to threaten her. It didn't work.

"You… sister? Him?" Vernon struggled to make sense.

Rachel nodded. "It's true. Did you meet my mother, Lily Potter? I'm told I look like her."

Vernon watched her closely, his eyes scanning her hair and her face.

"But you look normal," he grunted. "Not like him!"

He jerked his thumb at Harry who rolled his eyes.

"She isn't one of them," Petunia whispered to her husband.

Rachel nodded. "I'm not a witch, true."

Vernon nearly gasped. Petunia clasped her pearls. Rachel took a moment to realise they were reacting to the word witch.

"Dudley?" Percy called from the bottom of the stairs, "You done?"

"Nearly!" Dudley yelled back.

Vernon imbibed the steam again, inflating with rage. "It's your fault! It's all your fault! My sweet boy was led away because of people like you! I've seen him with that girl with tattoos and that car!"

He advanced at Rachel, his shadow falling over her. "What did you do, huh? What did you do to my boy?!"

Rachel narrowed her eyes, leaning back to avoid spittle flying. "Step back, please."

"You're taking Dudley away?" Petunia whispered, staring at Rachel betrayed. "But… you said you'd bring him here!"

"Yes, and I've done that," Rachel said, feeling vindictive. "I didn't say I wouldn't help him leave."

Vernon pointed an enraged finger at her face. "I don't care who or what you are! Get out of my house, you freak!"

Rachel noticed Harry scowl, fingers twitching towards his wand. Percy glared at the man as well.

She grabbed Vernon's finger and squeezed.

Vernon gasped, his other arm clutching at the trapped hand. He fell to his knees, trying to yank his index finger away from Rachel's unrelenting grip to no avail.

"You're painting a terrible portrait of yourself," Rachel told him firmly. "Speaking of which, you are the only one who hasn't noticed why the photographs on the mantle have been shifted."

Vernon squeaked. His finger turned red but Rachel didn't let go. In fact, she was staring at Petunia whose face had no blood left.

Rachel smiled. She let go of Vernon who collapsed on the floor, whimpering and clutching his hand.

Petunia stared, horrified, as Rachel approached her slowly. Under her breath, Rachel whispered, "So, how long have you been cheating on him?"

The woman staggered back, her face a perfect picture of horror. Jackpot.

"Where's the box, Petunia?" Rachel asked, her patience running low despite her deep satisfaction.

Her aunt stammered, "The tray! I swear, it's the tray! That's all I know!"

Rachel backed away, disappointed. The tray was definitely enchanted, but she'd hoped Petunia had simply been lying to them.

"Alrighty," Rachel shrugged. "We'll come back here if the tray doesn't check out."

Both Petunia and Vernon blanched. Rachel turned away, ignoring the stumped looks on Harry and Percy's faces.

After Dudley made his way down with a bulging bag, the four of them left No. 4 Privet Drive without a backwards glance.