Second Chances [The Dudley Story]

Splash!

He washed his face and left his bedroom, only to knock on the door just beyond his room. It was Harry Potter's new room, finally given to Harry after his tantrums that day. Vernon and Petunia decided it was better to have Harry sleep above instead of letting him share the cupboard.

From then on, the new friendship had set its sails.

"Come on, why are you still sleeping?" Dudley knocked on the door a few more times. But hearing no reply, he turned the knob and walked inside. "What are y—Fuck!"

He cursed openly for the first time. It made sense why Harry wasn't responding. The entire room was a mess, and half of the things around were somehow flying midair while Harry looked left and right confusedly.

Accidental magic strikes again.

"That's so cool!" He truly felt envious. "How are you doing this?"

"I-I don't know, Dudley! What's happening to me?"

"Magic! It has to be that!" Dudley proclaimed and jumped onto the bed to sit beside Harry. "Can't you control this? Make things fly at will?"

Thud!

All the things fell back on the floor.

"I feel tired." Harry weakly muttered.

Dudley scratched his head in silence. Why do they even use wands if they can do this much just by accident?

Again, he reckoned the wands were to avoid accidents.

"It's your birthday, Harry! No time for yawning—we're headed out," Dudley said, giving Harry's shoulder a friendly pat.

"Out? I don't think Uncle Vernon w—"

"Who said they're taking us? It's just the two of us. I checked the map, and there's a little eatery nearby. We can just walk there," Dudley explained, feeling he didn't have much time left to leave a nice enough impression on Harry. However, he was more worried about the lack of owl mail. By now, Harry should have received the Hogwarts admission letter.

He can clearly do magic. Then why the delay?

####

Dudley sneaked out of the house with Harry when Petunia was busy on the phone. He had given his cousin a set of his own clothes to look decent outside.

"Let's go." Dudley led the way.

Being twenty years old in the body of a kid meant that he didn't have the same hesitations, lack of confidence, and inability to make decisions as most kids. While Harry walked like a reserved, shy boy, Dudley was the boss on the streets, swinging arms, easygoing, and confident.

About half an hour later, they arrived at the nice little eatery. It was mostly empty, so they quickly found nice seats. But only Dudley looked at the menu as Harry had no money.

"Where are your parents?"

Dudley was prepared for that question by the waitress. "Mum said we could eat here while she's at the post office. It's Harry's birthday today! Could we get a cake for him? And maybe some kids' meals? Oh, and a couple of Pepsis too, please!"

His childish charm didn't fail him.

"Sure, darling. Anything else?"

"That's all," Dudley replied. He didn't know how much this was going to cost him. He had just brought all his monthly pocket money.

After that, the waitress brought a cake first with a lit candle. Then, the rest of the serving staff stood beside their table and sang a birthday song for Harry.

Hah, look at his shy face. Dudley held back his laughter. It's his first birthday of this kind.

Clap! Clap!

Dudley remembered from his memories, or lack of memories to be more specific. Harry's birthday had never been celebrated at the Dursley household.

"Blow out the candle and make a wish!" Dudley urged him.

Phoo!

Harry did just that.

But when he earnestly closed his eyes for a whole minute and made the wish, the twenty-year-old soul inside Dudley felt guilty. Guilty that he was trying to take advantage of Harry's innocence.

"What did you wish for?" Dudley asked.

"That you stay my friend forever and…"

I don't need to overthink this. Dudley made up his mind. He's starving for friendship and kindness. Even doing the bare minimum means the world to him.

Harry continued. "And I prayed for my Mum to wake up quickly."

"That's a good wi—Wait, wake up who?"

"My Mum," Harry replied, strangely looking at Dudley.

His mum?! Lily? Dudley tried to shuffle through his memories to find any mention of her. But, there was nothing. Dudley never cared for much besides himself. But there was only one memory that stood out. Every three months, Petunia took Harry to the hospital, and that was it.

"She's at the hospital?" He asked directly.

Harry nodded, looking down at the cake. "Aunt Petunia will take me to see her tomorrow. I… I want her to wake up soon."

This is different! She's not dead?!

"What happened to her?"

"Aunt Petunia said it was a car accident. Dad didn't make it and Mum… She fell into a coma." Harry sullenly answered, holding back his tears. "I-I wish she was here with me."

Did she survive Voldemort? Wait, she's in a muggle hospital?

"Can I come with you tomorrow? I'll pray for Aunt Lily's quick recovery."

Harry smiled brightly at that. "Of course! I'll introduce you to Mum."

"Brilliant! Let's eat first, then we'll hit the shops. I'm getting you some new clothes—yes, yes, your brother's loaded."

He lied, but as long as it got Harry smiling, it was worth it. In any case, the cash Dudley had been saving all those years to buy a motorbike after growing up was his to spend now.

Ugh, I should focus on exercising more. I can still date fine witches with Harry's help.

He was no weak man to let that dream die down so easily.

####

After an hour of tantrums, Petunia agreed to take Dudley along to the hospital with Harry. It was a fairly large muggle hospital, and clearly, Lily J. Potter was being taken care of very well, having her own private room with a permanently assigned nurse, who Dudley suspected was a witch in disguise.

As soon as they arrived, Dudley saw Petunia heading to the food court instead of going to see her sister. It left a bad taste in his mouth since her and Vernon's actions were going to affect his reputation too.

He chose to follow Harry instead, wanting to see what the real Lily Potter looked like. A few floors up, they entered the private room. It had a large window on the side, basking the room in sunlight.

"Mum? It's me, Harry." Harry walked to the bedside and softly held the hand.

Dudley remained in the distance, taking in the details. Seeing the woman lying in the bed, eyes closed, he couldn't help but wonder what she'd look like when awake. Her pale face was beautiful, whatever medicine she was taking worked like a charm on her, keeping her fit. Her thick, dark red hair was neatly combed and kept behind her head, straightened.

I can see why a bully like James decided to tone it down to impress her.

"Mum, you won't believe what happened!" Harry excitedly rambled about all that had happened to him over the last month. "So much has changed. Dudley has changed a lot and he's the best now. He stopped jumping on the stairs, pushing me, or troubling me. He forced Aunt Petunia to give me the room upstairs, and he even bought me cake and clothes on my birthday. He's my best friend."

That almost made me blush. Dudley nodded at that praise and gladly accepted it. Keep going, buddy.

"Dudley, come and introduce yourself," Harry called his name.

Dudley nodded and walked to the side of the bed. From so close, he saw her seemingly lifeless frame, not even a twitch. Could she hear them? Or was she stuck in a dream too?

"Good afternoon, Aunt Lily. I'm Dudley… Harry's cousin… Y-your nephew…?" Dudley shifted, unsure what else Harry might've told her. "I caused him a lot of trouble growing up, but… I'm not like that anymore. Please, get well soon and wake up."

The sad part about Harry was that he didn't even remember much about living with Lily. He didn't remember her voice, her smile, her touch. He was too young when the tragedy struck. Since then, all he wanted now was to hear her voice again.

"I'll wait for you outside, Harry." Dudley reckoned Harry wanted to be alone with his mum and left.

Another reason was to get his thoughts in order. This was clearly not the Harry Potter story he knew about. Lily was alive. The letters hadn't arrived.

What else is different? Is it all because of me?

No matter, he eagerly wanted to see those owls arrive at 4 Privet Drive. He felt terrified by the possibility that things might be greatly different from what he knew.

I can't be this unlucky.

______________________

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