Had this idea a week ago, and I had to write it out to get it out of
my head. Not sure exactly where I'm going to go with this. Or even
if I'm going to go with this...
This is a rough draft, knocked out in about an hour or so. Thus, it
probably needs a lot of fixing...any suggestions are welcome.
NEW STUDENT
A post-book 7 Harry Potter fanfic.
Harry Potter, names, characters, and related indicia (whatever those
are) are copyright and trademark Warner Brothers. The Harry Potter
books were created and are owned by J.K. Rowling. I in no way claim
ownership of any of the previous. This story is mine, however....
**********
Dudley Dursley was a rational man.
Of course, he was aware that there was much in the world that couldn't
exactly be explained by rational (to him, anyway) means. But, Dudley
took comfort in the knowledge that even if HE couldn't explain
something, most likely someone else would be able to. This might
necessitate different frames of reference, of course.
Dudley himself didn't bother to learn much about those other frames of
reference, but he was comfortable with the fact that they existed. As
long as they didn't affect him too much, he tried not to worry about
them too much.
This wasn't always the case, of course. Dudley had suffered torments
beyond any that could be caused by the rational, normal world, and for a
long time he had lived in fear of the other. However, when he had been
suffering the worst of it, someone from that world had rescued him,
literally saving his soul.
The change in Dudley's opinion on the subject didn't happen right away,
of course. But, after a few false starts, Dudley found that he could
accept the existence of the magic world without too much problem.
Several years had passed since Dudley's last major brush with the
magical world, and, Dudley's acceptance of it aside, he rather hoped
that he wouldn't have to deal with magic ever again.
Alas, this was not to be.
**********
Harry Potter, head of the Auror department at the Ministry of Magic, was
seated at his desk filling out reports one morning, when a visitor
entered his office.
"Hello, Harry! I see they're keeping you busy, eh?"
"Neville!" Harry hastily stood to greet his old friend. "Or Professor
Longbottom, that is.... What brings you to the Ministry today?
Shouldn't you be busy preparing for the new term?"
"Well," said Neville, "actually, we have a favor we'd like to ask of
you."
Harry's eyes narrowed a bit.
Seeing this, Neville smiled and raised his hands in a vague warding
gesture. "No, no, nothing like the last time we asked you to do
something for Hogwarts!"
Harry grinned in return. "Actually, taking care of Aragog's descendents
wasn't all that bad. It was dealing with Hagrid at the same time that
was challenging."
"This should be a lot easier," replied Neville. He held out a sheaf of
paper to Harry. "Normally, we have a Hogwarts staff member handle
situations like this, but since you're...acquainted with the
subject...." Neville trailed off uncertainly.
Harry stared at the papers he'd been given. After a few moments, he
looked up. "I haven't spoken to him in twenty years, you know."
"Yes, well, still, I think it might be better if he received this news
from someone he recognizes."
"Why? It's no problem for anyone else!"
"Ah, right..." Neville paused for thought, but Harry suddenly smiled.
"Don't worry, Neville. I'll take care of it." Harry sighed. "I'm not
sure if I should be surprised or not. Either way, this should be really
interesting."
**********
Dudley Dursley had just gotten home from work (he had worked his way up
to a mid-level position at Grunnings, his father's old firm). As he
entered the house, he accepted the customary hug from his daughter and a
peck on the cheek from his wife.
"Dinner's in an hour," said his wife, as Dudley hung up his coat. He
grunted in acknowledgement and headed upstairs to his home office. As
he set his briefcase down, he heard a loud CRACK from somewhere outside.
Puzzled, Dudley stuck his head out the window, but he couldn't see what
might have caused it.
He headed back downstairs, and found his daughter staring out the
window. "Dad, did you hear that noise just now?"
"Yes indeed, Rose, that I did." Dudley crossed the sitting room to
where his daughter was. "Did you see anything?"
"No, I --"
Rose was interrupted by the doorbell, which was odd because they hadn't
seen anyone coming to the front door. Dudley felt the hairs on the back
of his neck rise.
Dudley's wife came out of the kitchen. "Who is it?" she asked, before
she noticed the look on her husband's face.
Dudley looked to his wife and daughter, and said, "Just...Just stay back
for a minute, Kel." The doorbell rang again.
Rose, still at the front window, gave a start. "There's someone at the
door!"
"Well, of course there is," started Kelly Dursely, but whatever else she
was going to say was drowned out by Dudley's yelp of surprise as he
looked out the window again. Kelly looked at Rose, confused.
Steeling himself, Dudley walked to the entryway. After a moment's
hesitation, he opened the door.
"Hullo, Big D," said the man on the front step.
"H-hah-h-HARRY?"
Harry nodded, smiling.
No one moved for a few moments.
Finally, Harry said, "Er...Can I come in?"
Dudley, who had successfully suppressed the urge to clamp his hands over
his mouth, shook himself. "Ah! Yes! Yes, er, come in! Come in, of
course!"
Kelly and Rose looked at Dudley, expectantly.
"Ah, right, right...Kelly, Rose, this is my cousin, Harry Potter," said
Dudley. He spoke a bit rapidly, his voice betraying some stress.
"Harry Potter, I've told you about him, haven't I?"
The two of them could only nod in agreement. Although Dudley had told
them stories, neither of them knew what to make of this cloaked stranger
who had appeared in their midst.
Meanwhile, Harry had clapped Dudley on the shoulder. "You're looking
good, Dudley," he said cheerfully. "Looks like the life of a
businessman agrees with you."
"Yes, right, heh heh," said Dudley. Suddenly, he turned towards his
wife and daughter. "Well, don't just stand there, bring our guest some
tea!"
Shaking herself out of her shock, Kelly turned and went back into the
kitchen. Dudley looked at Rose. "Come on, now, give your mother a
hand."
As soon as Rose had followed her mother out of the room, Dudley spun
back towards Harry. "Well, er. Have a seat," he said, starting to calm
down a little. Harry nodded and sat in one of the armchairs in the
sitting room.
Dudley sat across from him, on the edge of the sofa. "So, um. What
brings you here, then?"
"Well, we need to talk."
"Talk? About what?" Dudley was starting to get nervous again.
"About magic, and wizards and witches..."
Involuntarily, Dudley's hands twitched. He took a deep breath. In a
low voice, he said, "Look. I never knew much about the magic world, but
I know enough to say that I would rather not be a part of it." Harry
started to speak, but Dudley continued. "But, if you need me to do
something...at least keep my wife and child out of it, can't you?"
Wordlessly, Harry handed a letter to Dudley.
Dudley took the letter and examined it. It was addressed to Rose
Dursley, in green ink, and the return address was....
After a long silence, Dudley said, "Mum and dad are going to have a fit,
aren't they."
--
...and the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more
painful than the risk it took to blossom.
--Anais Nin
---
.-------Anime/Manga Fanfiction Mailing List--------.
| Administrators - [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
| Unsubscribing - [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
| Put 'unsubscribe' in the subject |
`------------ FAQ URL coming soon.... -------------'
