Chapter Text
“Diddykins?” Petunia opened the door of the small bedroom Dudley had spent most of the last year occupying. He looked up towards his mother from where he’d been playing PlayStation and she smiled at him “We’re going home.”
“Huh?” Dudley didn’t even bother pausing the game, he just looked up at his mother who was smiling.
“Home. We’re going home.” She nodded downstairs “They…” She was referring to Dedalus Diggle and Hestia Jones who’d been their magical protectors for the last yet “…said it’s over.”
And so several days later the Dursley’s packed their bags and said goodbye, if Dedalus and Hestia were surprised that after a year Vernon Dursley still hadn’t warmed up to them, they did not let it show. He gave them a gruff thanks, his wife managed a slightly more sincere one, what had surprised their magical protectors is the brief flash of relief that flashed across Petunia’s face when they were told Harry had survived and was well and Dudley, well Dudley was less afraid of them that when they started, he’d even started to warm to them over the last few months to his parents horror.
Finally, the Dursley’s returned to Privet Drive. It looked untouched from the outside and they had been assured the property had been checked to ensure it was safe. “If they ruddy touched anything!” Vernon had grumbled most of the way home. There was dust floating in the air clearly visible as the light touched it. Dudley went to unpack his things, looking around the bedroom he’d left a year ago.
“The Boy left some things.” Vernon called down to his wife and Dudley stopped unpacking and listened as his parents discussed throwing them away but making sure the neighbours didn’t see them.
“No.” Dudley stepped out of his room and looked towards his mother and father. “Those are Harry’s things.” His father stared back at him an angry look in his face. “We should send them to him”
Dudley had never pushed back and point blank refused his father before and Vernon was so surprised he looked at his son and snarled “Fine. But Dudley I want this out of my house. I want no trace that boy ever set foot in here.” Before stalking off down the stairs.
How was he going to get Harry’s belongings back to him? Dudley sat on the dusty mattress in what was Harry’s room, his old second bedroom, and looked at the pile of books Harry left behind, along with what looked like a broken spinning top and other possessions that his cousin didn’t have the time to pack. He saw some thick paper left on Harry’s desk and the thought struck him. He rushed back into his room scraping around in the draw of his own desk eventually finding a pen and being more surprised when it worked. He emptied the contents of his suitcase onto the floor and took it, empty, back into Harry’s room. When he was done he looked at the letter, had managed to find an envelope in and amongst the scraps left by Harry and wrote the address on the front, staring down happy with his actions.
Harry Potter
Hogwarts School
He left the house and shoved it in the post box at the end of the road and hoped he’d receive an answer. What he didn’t expect is to see his cousin sat on the wall at the end of Privet Drive when he was walking home a few days later. “Hey Big D.”
Dudley stared at him in shock “Hi.”
Harry smiled and they both laughed at how awkward it was. “Do you want to get a drink?” Harry asked, he had no desire to go into Number 4.
“We’re not 18 yet.” Dudley said.
“Doesn’t matter.” Harry told him and they walked in silence to a small pub called the Whinging Vicar, Harry went to the bar and if Dudley thought he saw the brief flick of a wand he didn’t say anything as Harry returned with two pints of beer.
“Sending the letter worked?” Dudley asked “I didn’t think I’d actually be able to write to your school.”
“Sort of.” Harry took a sip of his beer. “Some of my lot are in the post office and they intercept the letters.” Dudley just nodded. It wasn’t much but it was a start.
From this point on Harry and Dudley would remain in contact with each other, cards and a visit at Christmas. Harry to the horror of his aunt and uncle attended Dudley’s wedding to Rachel Smith and likewise Dudley was present at Harry’s wedding to Ginny Weasley. He’d never quite got over the sweet Fred and George left for him and he point blank refused to take an appetiser from George at the wedding, the memories of his tongue swelling and exploding out of his mouth were still in his mind.
Whilst Dudley was happy to maintain a quiet not quite friendship with his cousin, he was still Dursley enough to be horrified at the heavy letter with the green ink that arrived through his letter box one day.
Mr Lucas Dursley
Oak Tree Close
Little Whinging
Surrey