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King's Cross Station was bustling with people as Harry and Dudley stepped out into the muggle side. Everywhere they looked families were coming and going holding large suitcases and clutching their coats close to their chests. Lights were strung up around the station and they could see wreaths peaking out from some vendor stalls. Both boys were filled with a mix of anxiety and excitement; this was the first Christmas they'd spend with their new family.
Hannah Baker had assumed custody of them both after seeing their severe mistreatment at the hands of the Dursleys last Summer. Hannah had been a bright spot in their lives ever since she came into it as Dudley's guidance counselor. It had been a rocky road at the beginning when they found out Hannah had magic and had known who they were the entire time without coming forward. Both boys had felt rightfully betrayed, but with family mind-healing sessions they had worked out their differences.
They walked towards the Costa Coffee where Hannah had asked them to meet her. She had extricated herself from the wizarding world after the death of her sister and friends during Voldemort's rise to power, and she didn't want them to deal with the unwanted attention she would receive from her fellow wizards if she ventured onto platform 9 3/4.
Hannah was waiting for them with a big smile and a cup of coffee in her hand as they approached.
"Happy break boys," she called. "Would you like a treat?"
They glanced at each other before deciding. "Is there hot chocolate?" Dudley asked.
Hannah grinned wider. "There is. In fact, I think they might even have peppermint hot chocolate," she said conspiratorially.
The boys ordered their treats, a peppermint hot chocolate with extra whipped cream for Dudley, and a plain hot chocolate for Harry.
"How are we getting home?" Harry asked as they walked through the station.
"Well, since there's three of us, and Aparation is unpleasant--I try to avoid it at all costs--" she said dramatically. "I thought we'd just take my car?"
"Oh," Dudley said relieved. "We weren't sure if you had one."
Hannah laughed her eyes bright and without a hint of malice Dudley had seen in the eyes of his other parental figures. "Well, I couldn't ride a broom or floo to primary school, could I?"
They all piled into her nondescript brown Chrysler after storing their trunks in the magically enlarged boot.
"I thought you weren't allowed to magically enhance muggle-made items," Harry remarked skeptically from the back seat. Both Harry and Dudley had decided that as much fun as riding shotgun in a car might be, they were safer together in the back seat. "I think Mr. Weasley got in a lot of trouble for it."
Dudley shot a glare in Harry's direction. Was he trying to provoke her?
Hannah tossed her long brown hair out of her eyes and put the key in the ignition. "We aren't, strictly speaking. Arthur Weasley enchanted his car to fly, which is why he was caught." She started the car and backed out of the parking space. "But most of us can get away with small enhancements. Some rules are meant to be broken." She looked at the boys through the rearview mirror and winked.
The rest of their car ride was quiet. Dudley was happy to stare out the window at the passing cars and houses, watching families traveling for the holidays or string up lights. The feeling in the pit of his stomach hadn't gone away, but he felt himself being cautiously optimistic. Harry seemed to be trying to figure Hannah out. Dudley could understand; Harry hadn't grown up knowing Hannah like Dudley did and he was a very cautious person due to their upbringing. For her part, Hannah seemed to be content to let the boys steer the conversation. She didn't push them to talk, but she didn't stilt the conversation if one of them had something to say.
Soon enough they arrived at Hannah's house on the other side of Little Whinging. It was a prettier side, at least to Dudley. There was individuality here unlike the identical row houses of Privet Drive.
Hannah helped them get their trunks out of the boot, reinforcing the feather-weight charm before allowing them to pull them out.
"I've got your rooms all set up. Sorry the house is a bit of a mess. Harry, your room used to be my office, I think I was able to summon all my files out of it, but just let me know if you find anything. Later this week we can go shopping so you can personalize your rooms more. But for now I'll let you go explore. I'm sure you want to get settled in."
The settling in process took longer than a week but Hannah still kept her word and took the boys shopping for things to decorate their rooms with. Harry got a bookshelf, to put his ever expanding library on, and a few area rugs in deep greens and blues. He also go a comforter and bed sheet set to match. Dudley got a similar duvet and bed sheet set, but his in black and white with muted red and brown accents. He also got a white fluffy rug and a plush arm chair to do his own reading in. Both boys took time to hang their pictures and mementos on their walls until their spaces felt less like a blank canvas and more like a space they could call their own.
Settling in with Hannah was a bit slower. Even though Dudley had grown up with her as a presence in his life, it was hard not to distrust her easy-going manner. Most of the time the boys were fine feeling Hannah out, but when Dudley dropped a plate as he was clearing the dishes one night, he fell into an extreme panic attack, brought on by a flashback. Harry immediately started to soothe his brother by DOING WHAT HELPS DUDLEY. Hannah never once lost her cool, she calmly followed Harry's instructions and when it became clear Harry himself was under too much stress, took over and calmed Dudley herself. While not a positive one, the incident did a lot for Harry in trusting Hannah.
One evening, Hannah piled them all back into her brown Chrysler and they drove to get the Christmas tree. With a few parameter's, Hannah was content to let the boys run off and pick the tree all by themselves. They had a wonderful time laughing and playing hide and seek in between the pine needles. When they were tired and their eyes were running and their noses were red, they finally went to get Hannah and let her approve the tree they chose.
"Perfect, let's take her home boys!" She announced.
Dudley and Harry went to stand next to the car while Hannah paid.
"Your boys are so cute," the cashier told her.
Hannah smiled and glanced back at the boys patiently waiting by the car. "They aren't they?"
After the tree was tied on the top of the car Hannah made them all pose for a picture. "Our first family photo!" She announced. They took several, never thinking of the families they had had to leave to get to this one.