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Chapter 2: New Wands and Deep Pockets, Literally of course

Dudley stood next to Harry looking back getting an eyeful of flashing cameras and faced forward again. “What do they even think they’re taking pictures of?” Dudley asked Harry who chuckled ruffling his hair.

“I’m extremely famous, probably some story on why there’s a 16 year old waiting with me” Harry replied.

Dudley didn’t reply just shifted in the blue hoodie he’d borrowed from James, he was kind of surprised that it fit him, really well actually. It must have been an old one of James, the pants however did not fit quite as well. “There it is” Harry mentions as the train comes to the station, it didn’t take long for kids to start getting off the train and finding their parents.

“What did you tell your kids?” Dudley asked.

“Oh not much yet, just that you’re staying with us” Harry responded, Dudley looked on suspiciously, he didn’t like his answer.

Dudley spotted two rather tall boys with messy black hair and knew immediately they were his cousin’s kids then a girl with red hair trailed behind them and immediately made him think of Ginny. The boys stopped in front of them and all three took turns hugging their father.

The oldest boy, with the golden bronze mixed with flecks of green eyes stared at him first. “He looks nothing like you” he informed his father.

“No, why would he?” Harry asked tilting his friend.

“But I- so he’s not some sort of illegitimate child?” he asked.

Harry’s cheeks went red “no, not at all, I- I’ll explain it to you once we get home. It’s not easy nor is it proper to explain things over a letter. Where on earth did you?...” Harry glanced at the reporters then closed his mouth, it explained everything.

“Alright, just had to clarify just in case, hello Dudley” James, the eldest, smiled and held out his hand to shake which he did and the younger boy did the same but Lily was clearly her mothers kind of person because she went straight for a hug.

“Hi, sorry for burrowing your clothes” Dudley mentioned shifting from foot to foot, he hated the staring from everyone.

“No problem, keep that jacket, I can't fit it anyway” James replied still studying Dudley then looking at his eyes “you guys have the same eye shape” he mentioned.

“I’m not his-”

“Yes, I know that” James responded then they were walking out to Harry’s car and within and they were on their way back home. Dudley sat in front with Harry listening as the three talked about their time at Hogwarts and he felt so far away from when he was really 16.

Dudley wondered what his parents would do, his dad would no doubt hate him or at least stay away and he wasn’t sure what his mom would do. He closed his eyes, if he concentrated he could feel the soft hum that was more than his heart beat under his skin. It was magic.

“Dudley” he jolted then realized the car had stopped and they were back, “are you tired?” Harry asked.

Dudley shrugged “you need to tell me if you have any recurring symptoms, we’re not sure if that goop had any negative effects on you. You were breathing the stuff for years” Harry explained.

Dudley nodded “I’m just tired today, don’t worry, it’s a little strange; I feel like I’m not supposed to be here or something” he responded.

“You’re family, D” Harry said firmly and Dudley nodded but didn’t quite believe it.

He got out of the car and followed Harry inside where all three of the kids were on the couch with Ginny. “I think they need to know” Ginny told Harry who sighed and began to explain everything that they knew about what happened to Dudley.

“So he’s actually like 40?” Albus blurted, his eyes wide.

“I’m 36” Harry said, a little offended.

“It’s like he was in a deep sleep” Ginny explained.

The group sat in silence taking this in “so Dudley really is family?” Lily asked bubbly.

“Yes” both parents nodded.

“Cool” James said “can we teach him spells too?” he added.

“I suppose that would be alright” Ginny agreed “but first we’ll go to Diagon Ally tomorrow” she added.

“Will I will have to wear robes?” Dudley asked, he didn’t like the notion of wearing those long, hot and uncomfortable looking robes.

“Only at Hogwarts and even then it’s just a black colored robe that’s just like a loose jacket. Don’t worry it’s more comfortable than it looks” Harry replied.

The rest of the day Dudley spent with Ginny making a list of clothing and things he’d need to be caught up on school things. He was a little bit grossed out by the ‘frog legs’ and other things listed under ‘potions ingredients” which she assured weren’t as awful as they sounded.

They had a quiet dinner and Dudley went to bed early thinking about the next day. He woke and dressed in another burrowed pair of jeans and a t-shirt before walking downstairs. They were kind of long for him and James smirked at him “you’re kind of short” he said.

“I suppose this is what I get for being a tall and big kid when I was younger” Dudley replied, James gave a slightly perplexed look.

“You know I think I’m gonna like you” James said and Dudley just raised an eyebrow and they both walked into the kitchen.

“Morning, boys” Ginny said setting eggs, toast, bacon on the table for them, Albus and Lily were already eating their breakfast and Dudley stared at his food, he didn’t want to say anything. He put some jelly on his toast and ate all of his eggs as usual but he couldn’t bring himself to swallow eat the bacon.

Ginny took her seat at the table soon after “so how did everyone sleep?” she asked.

The Potter children all murmured ‘good’ and so did Dudley. “I dreamed about nargles” Lily mentioned.

“What are nargles” Dudley asked glancing at Harry who smiled.

“Only Luna knows” the family responded and he stared confused.

“Anyway, I dreamed that they look like tiny people with wings” Lily replied.

“Fairies” Dudley blurted out and blushed “sorry, we have a lot of ideas about certain creatures and the most popular one besides dragons of course are fairies. Most things I’ve seen they’re tiny people with wings and pointed ears” Dudley replied.

“Cool, so the nargles looked exactly like that and they kept stealing my socks so I put bananas in them” Lily said.

“What good would bananas do?” Harry asked perplexed.

“That’s a dream for you, they never make any sense” James concluded eating the last of his eggs.

“Dudley, is the bacon ok?” Ginny asked.

“I um, they make me a little queasy” Dudley replied.

“That’s not good, you don’t like them?” Ginny asked.

“I used to, I think its just past trauma or something” Dudley said, thinking about the times his mom would serve him bacon every morning
without giving Harry anything and certain his experience with the pigs tail didn’t help either..

“You don’t think it’s a side effect of the liquid we found you in?” Harry asked.

Dudley shook his head “no because I couldn’t eat it after that one time” he blushed wanting to melt into his chair.

Harry nodded staring intently at him “you are not a pig” he said quietly.

“I know that” Dudley replied.

“Do you?” Harry leaned back.

“Let’s go get ready children” Ginny said gathering her three kids upstairs and Dudley watched her go.

“But what if it’s true?” Dudley asked, the corners of his eyes tearing “what if now that I have magic it is, what if it’s a pig?” he asked.

“Pigs are actually fairly intelligent but somehow I don’t think it’ll be your patronus” he replied.

“Why not?” Dudley asked.

“You’re too quiet, the animal reflects your personality, I’m a stag now what does that tell you?” Harry asked.

“You’re proud, protective of others, quiet, like to wander” Dudley replied.

“Now, if you were a pig you’d be glutinous, loud, and intelligent” Harry replied.

“But I am glutinous” Dudley replied.

“Not so much anymore. You know what James patronus is?” Harry asked.

Dudley looked at him with interest.

“A fox, now does that surprise you?” Harry asked.

“Not in the least” Dudley replied.

“I thought not, do you feel a little better?” Harry asked, Dudley stood and nodded and just in time Ginny and her kids walked down stairs.

“We’re ready to go” Harry said.

They piled into the car and drove, flew the car a bit too before actually driving in London and parking at front of a pub named ‘The Leaky
Cauldron.’ Dudley trailed interested behind James. The pub was clean and all wooden, a lot of families were eating at the tables and some drinking at the bar.

“Hello, Harry” a man with black hair in a black apron greeted.

“Hey Neville, just here for a day of shopping” Harry greeted, all three of his children grinned and greeted Neville too while Dudley just stood there looking with mild interest around the pub.

“-udley”

Dudley snapped to attention “huh?” he asked, his cheeks growing warm.

“He was just introducing you, well you guys better get started on the shopping. I’ll see you some time this summer then” he said.

“Right, nice to meet you” Dudley said then trailed after Harry, they entered a room with a brick wall “is this like the platform?” he asked.

“Nope” Lily replied popping the “p” and Harry tapped a brick and all of them went into motion moving themselves to form an opening to a whole other world.

“Pretty sure it’s better than stepping into a wardrobe and hey no ice witches either” Dudley mentioned grinning for the first time since he woke up and Harry laughed at that. No one but them got the reference but he was just fine with that.

“So clothes first?” Lily asked excitedly and both boys groaned.

“No, wand, books, and then clothes” Ginny told her very strictly and Lily sighed and accepted this and started following like the rest of them. Dudley didn’t speak as they walked through the shops, him distracted by literally everything and James grabbed his shirt sleeve to keep him moving.

Dudley bumped into James when he stopped him in front of him, Dudley stepped back rubbing his nose when he hit his face into James’s back. James laughed as his family went inside the shop and Dudley pouted, a voluntary reaction from his childhood. “You’re cute” James commented ruffling his hair.

Dudley’s cheeks heated from embarrassment and he followed James into the shop which turned out to be rather small. “Mr. Potter, I rather thought that Lily was youngest child” a man with brown hair stood behind the counter asked.

“She is but my cousin has some different circumstances and needs a wand, Devon” he replied.

“Cousin hm” Devon looked at Dudley and he walked forward.

“Hello” Dudley greeted, shifting awkwardly, in school he liked to think he was confident but when it came to meeting people without threats than he was pretty timid.

“Quiet then? Applewood perhaps” he considered picking out several wands all the while muttering to himself. “Try this one?” he suggested.

Dudley took it unsure what to do with it “wave it” Harry said and Dudley did and the air suddenly felt feather light and wind blew the door open and Dudley felt it fill him up. They all stared at him with shock.

“Um, was that bad?” Dudley asked.

“N-No, that’s the first time I’ve seen a match made so quickly, that’s filled with ghostly essence. Applewood is what it’s made of, it’s very good fit with Transfiguration and it’s made to produce a very good Patronus” he explained.

“Your eyes glowed” Lily blurted out, her expression one of awe.

Dudley touched his eyelid “don’t worry about it, we’ll figure this out, have my friend, Hermione help with research, alright?” Harry said calmly.

Dudley nodded, look at his soon and fit it in his jeans, so that was why wizard jeans had deep pockets, literally of course. They then left the store to another one where there were books. Dudley browsed around the store with Al and James behind him, Dudley bent down when he saw an interesting title. “Where Myth of Muggles and Truth of Wizards collide: the truth of the legends” he turned to the title page, Merlin, the fae, witches and wizards, dragons and the tales that go with them.

Dudley looked and flipped pages to see some of the beautifully illustrated pictures that belonged with a chapter. It was a hefty book and he had no idea what it cost, he hadn’t really learned wizarding money yet. He and started to put it back “you want it?” Al asked keeping him from putting it on the shelf.

“It looks interesting but your dad has already bought me a lot of stuff, I don’t want to push it” Dudley replied.

“It’s fine, if you hadn’t noticed your room is a bit drab” Al replied.

“Yeah, having something to do for fun is something dad would approve of. It’s not like a big deal since once you’ve got all the books and clothes then you’re done, you can get things as you like” James agreed.

“You don’t think he’ll be mad?” Dudley asked.

“Have you met our dad, like honestly, didn’t you grow up with him?” Al asked.

“I did but our relationship wasn’t great, my parents hated magic and I- I was a pig” Dudley said, his hand clasped the book tightly for support.

“Is that what he meant at the dinner table?” James asked intensely.

“I um, I used to be really fat and selfish and all Harry got living with us was my hand me downs, a closet he used to live in and dishes he’d clean,” Dudley replied.

“Dad has a lot of old enemies and he gets along fine with them, I think you should stop judging yourself on what you used to be like.

Despite what some people think, people do change, they grow up or rather grow down” Al said considering Dudley’s circumstances.

“How’d you guys get so wise, you’re kids?” he asked.

“Years of tales from our parents, they want us to learn lessons vicariously through them” James shrugged.

Dudley smiled and walked back to Ginny and Harry, they were having a lovers quarrel on some book versus another. Ginny was the first to notice “yes dear?” she asked.

“Um I was wondering if it’s alright if I could get a book f-for myself. Just- um” he had never done this, as a kid he’d always demanded for
thing he wanted but to ask politely was something he was a little nervous about.

“Absolutely, you need some more personal items in your room, with the way it is now it’s a little depressing like a guest room” Ginny said.

“It was a guest room” Harry pointed out and Ginny swatted his arm and gave him a glare that didn’t contain her slightly amusement and it made Dudley smile.

He tagged along while they picked out journals, things he’d need for home study to catch him up before Hogwarts. Quarrelling about one author versus another, it was a little foreign, his parents seemed so unusual by comparison.

His mother agreeing to everything his father said, he wondered if it was why he hated confrontations. Why he was shy when it came to people, “Dudley” he blinked to find Harry and Ginny’s eyes on him. “Are you alright, you weren’t there for a minute” he asked.

“Uh, yeah, m’fine just thinking, sorry” he said, glancing behind him when all three Potter kids walked up.

“Okay, well, we’ll get things paid for and then go buy some clothes that fit” Ginny said.

Dudley nodded, Lily let out an excited squeal and he hoped there were some clothing stores with things that wouldn’t make him look

stupid. He didn’t look so good with dressy things.

They walked into a store called “Malkins: Dress robes and attire for every occasion.” Dudley blinked for a second, the store was bigger than it looked from the outside and he looked at Harry with wide eyes. Then he grinned “it’s bigger on the inside” he said.

Harry laughed “you see all this and that’s what you come up with, really Dudley, and a Doctor Who quote, too?” he asked.

Dudley shrugged as if saying ‘I had to’ and was then promptly dragged to teen boys section by Lily and was followed by Albus and James.

“Okay according to mum’s list you need at least 8 pairs of casual pants, do you like jeans or cargo pants?” Lily asked.

Dudley picked a couple types of jeans, low rise, skinny, boot, and decide he liked low rise, the regular type of jeans best and he picked a couple pairs of cargo pants which were exactly like jeans except more pockets. He got dark green, 2 tan, and brown cargo pants.

He had a lot more fun picking out shirts, besides the robe section the store was just like a muggle store with the exception of the wizarding music artists and Quidditch teams. He then picked out 3 pairs of shoes and he couldn’t resist a dark green beanie he found.

“Ready?” Ginny asked looking at the pile of clothes Dudley and the rest had picked out for him.

“Mm” he nodded glancing at the case, were those? They were! Dudley had thought about getting gages before the whole war thing started.

Plus the gages they had were the coolest things ever. One set looked like a blue Supernova star, like the animations on the computer but still it was pulsing.

“Oh? Did you want to get your ears pierced?” Ginny asked.

“You’d let me?” Dudley asked.

“Sure, Dominique got gages just last month, a cousin you’ve yet to meet” she added.

“Yes” Dudley said.

“Alright, let’s just get these at the paid for first and then I’ll have someone do them for you” she said.

“I think they will fit you” Al mentioned as they got to the desk and a woman was tallying up money. Dudley smiled, today was a really good day.

By the time Harry had wandered back to them, Dudley had the Supernova gages in his ears. “Those are cool” he said after a moment of
surprise had passed.

“Thank you so much” Dudley told them all.

“No problem, dear, not when you look so happy” Ginny replied ruffling his hair. Yeah, today was a good day.

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Chapter 2: New Wands and Deep Pockets, Literally of course

Dudley stood next to Harry looking back getting an eyeful of flashing cameras and faced forward again. “What do they even think they’re taking pictures of?” Dudley asked Harry who chuckled ruffling his hair.

“I’m extremely famous, probably some story on why there’s a 16 year old waiting with me” Harry replied.

Dudley didn’t reply just shifted in the blue hoodie he’d borrowed from James, he was kind of surprised that it fit him, really well actually. It must have been an old one of James, the pants however did not fit quite as well. “There it is” Harry mentions as the train comes to the station, it didn’t take long for kids to start getting off the train and finding their parents.

“What did you tell your kids?” Dudley asked.

“Oh not much yet, just that you’re staying with us” Harry responded, Dudley looked on suspiciously, he didn’t like his answer.

Dudley spotted two rather tall boys with messy black hair and knew immediately they were his cousin’s kids then a girl with red hair trailed behind them and immediately made him think of Ginny. The boys stopped in front of them and all three took turns hugging their father.

The oldest boy, with the golden bronze mixed with flecks of green eyes stared at him first. “He looks nothing like you” he informed his father.

“No, why would he?” Harry asked tilting his friend.

“But I- so he’s not some sort of illegitimate child?” he asked.

Harry’s cheeks went red “no, not at all, I- I’ll explain it to you once we get home. It’s not easy nor is it proper to explain things over a letter. Where on earth did you?...” Harry glanced at the reporters then closed his mouth, it explained everything.

“Alright, just had to clarify just in case, hello Dudley” James, the eldest, smiled and held out his hand to shake which he did and the younger boy did the same but Lily was clearly her mothers kind of person because she went straight for a hug.

“Hi, sorry for burrowing your clothes” Dudley mentioned shifting from foot to foot, he hated the staring from everyone.

“No problem, keep that jacket, I can't fit it anyway” James replied still studying Dudley then looking at his eyes “you guys have the same eye shape” he mentioned.

“I’m not his-”

“Yes, I know that” James responded then they were walking out to Harry’s car and within and they were on their way back home. Dudley sat in front with Harry listening as the three talked about their time at Hogwarts and he felt so far away from when he was really 16.

Dudley wondered what his parents would do, his dad would no doubt hate him or at least stay away and he wasn’t sure what his mom would do. He closed his eyes, if he concentrated he could feel the soft hum that was more than his heart beat under his skin. It was magic.

“Dudley” he jolted then realized the car had stopped and they were back, “are you tired?” Harry asked.

Dudley shrugged “you need to tell me if you have any recurring symptoms, we’re not sure if that goop had any negative effects on you. You were breathing the stuff for years” Harry explained.

Dudley nodded “I’m just tired today, don’t worry, it’s a little strange; I feel like I’m not supposed to be here or something” he responded.

“You’re family, D” Harry said firmly and Dudley nodded but didn’t quite believe it.

He got out of the car and followed Harry inside where all three of the kids were on the couch with Ginny. “I think they need to know” Ginny told Harry who sighed and began to explain everything that they knew about what happened to Dudley.

“So he’s actually like 40?” Albus blurted, his eyes wide.

“I’m 36” Harry said, a little offended.

“It’s like he was in a deep sleep” Ginny explained.

The group sat in silence taking this in “so Dudley really is family?” Lily asked bubbly.

“Yes” both parents nodded.

“Cool” James said “can we teach him spells too?” he added.

“I suppose that would be alright” Ginny agreed “but first we’ll go to Diagon Ally tomorrow” she added.

“Will I will have to wear robes?” Dudley asked, he didn’t like the notion of wearing those long, hot and uncomfortable looking robes.

“Only at Hogwarts and even then it’s just a black colored robe that’s just like a loose jacket. Don’t worry it’s more comfortable than it looks” Harry replied.

The rest of the day Dudley spent with Ginny making a list of clothing and things he’d need to be caught up on school things. He was a little bit grossed out by the ‘frog legs’ and other things listed under ‘potions ingredients” which she assured weren’t as awful as they sounded.

They had a quiet dinner and Dudley went to bed early thinking about the next day. He woke and dressed in another burrowed pair of jeans and a t-shirt before walking downstairs. They were kind of long for him and James smirked at him “you’re kind of short” he said.

“I suppose this is what I get for being a tall and big kid when I was younger” Dudley replied, James gave a slightly perplexed look.

“You know I think I’m gonna like you” James said and Dudley just raised an eyebrow and they both walked into the kitchen.

“Morning, boys” Ginny said setting eggs, toast, bacon on the table for them, Albus and Lily were already eating their breakfast and Dudley stared at his food, he didn’t want to say anything. He put some jelly on his toast and ate all of his eggs as usual but he couldn’t bring himself to swallow eat the bacon.

Ginny took her seat at the table soon after “so how did everyone sleep?” she asked.

The Potter children all murmured ‘good’ and so did Dudley. “I dreamed about nargles” Lily mentioned.

“What are nargles” Dudley asked glancing at Harry who smiled.

“Only Luna knows” the family responded and he stared confused.

“Anyway, I dreamed that they look like tiny people with wings” Lily replied.

“Fairies” Dudley blurted out and blushed “sorry, we have a lot of ideas about certain creatures and the most popular one besides dragons of course are fairies. Most things I’ve seen they’re tiny people with wings and pointed ears” Dudley replied.

“Cool, so the nargles looked exactly like that and they kept stealing my socks so I put bananas in them” Lily said.

“What good would bananas do?” Harry asked perplexed.

“That’s a dream for you, they never make any sense” James concluded eating the last of his eggs.

“Dudley, is the bacon ok?” Ginny asked.

“I um, they make me a little queasy” Dudley replied.

“That’s not good, you don’t like them?” Ginny asked.

“I used to, I think its just past trauma or something” Dudley said, thinking about the times his mom would serve him bacon every morning
without giving Harry anything and certain his experience with the pigs tail didn’t help either..

“You don’t think it’s a side effect of the liquid we found you in?” Harry asked.

Dudley shook his head “no because I couldn’t eat it after that one time” he blushed wanting to melt into his chair.

Harry nodded staring intently at him “you are not a pig” he said quietly.

“I know that” Dudley replied.

“Do you?” Harry leaned back.

“Let’s go get ready children” Ginny said gathering her three kids upstairs and Dudley watched her go.

“But what if it’s true?” Dudley asked, the corners of his eyes tearing “what if now that I have magic it is, what if it’s a pig?” he asked.

“Pigs are actually fairly intelligent but somehow I don’t think it’ll be your patronus” he replied.

“Why not?” Dudley asked.

“You’re too quiet, the animal reflects your personality, I’m a stag now what does that tell you?” Harry asked.

“You’re proud, protective of others, quiet, like to wander” Dudley replied.

“Now, if you were a pig you’d be glutinous, loud, and intelligent” Harry replied.

“But I am glutinous” Dudley replied.

“Not so much anymore. You know what James patronus is?” Harry asked.

Dudley looked at him with interest.

“A fox, now does that surprise you?” Harry asked.

“Not in the least” Dudley replied.

“I thought not, do you feel a little better?” Harry asked, Dudley stood and nodded and just in time Ginny and her kids walked down stairs.

“We’re ready to go” Harry said.

They piled into the car and drove, flew the car a bit too before actually driving in London and parking at front of a pub named ‘The Leaky
Cauldron.’ Dudley trailed interested behind James. The pub was clean and all wooden, a lot of families were eating at the tables and some drinking at the bar.

“Hello, Harry” a man with black hair in a black apron greeted.

“Hey Neville, just here for a day of shopping” Harry greeted, all three of his children grinned and greeted Neville too while Dudley just stood there looking with mild interest around the pub.

“-udley”

Dudley snapped to attention “huh?” he asked, his cheeks growing warm.

“He was just introducing you, well you guys better get started on the shopping. I’ll see you some time this summer then” he said.

“Right, nice to meet you” Dudley said then trailed after Harry, they entered a room with a brick wall “is this like the platform?” he asked.

“Nope” Lily replied popping the “p” and Harry tapped a brick and all of them went into motion moving themselves to form an opening to a whole other world.

“Pretty sure it’s better than stepping into a wardrobe and hey no ice witches either” Dudley mentioned grinning for the first time since he woke up and Harry laughed at that. No one but them got the reference but he was just fine with that.

“So clothes first?” Lily asked excitedly and both boys groaned.

“No, wand, books, and then clothes” Ginny told her very strictly and Lily sighed and accepted this and started following like the rest of them. Dudley didn’t speak as they walked through the shops, him distracted by literally everything and James grabbed his shirt sleeve to keep him moving.

Dudley bumped into James when he stopped him in front of him, Dudley stepped back rubbing his nose when he hit his face into James’s back. James laughed as his family went inside the shop and Dudley pouted, a voluntary reaction from his childhood. “You’re cute” James commented ruffling his hair.

Dudley’s cheeks heated from embarrassment and he followed James into the shop which turned out to be rather small. “Mr. Potter, I rather thought that Lily was youngest child” a man with brown hair stood behind the counter asked.

“She is but my cousin has some different circumstances and needs a wand, Devon” he replied.

“Cousin hm” Devon looked at Dudley and he walked forward.

“Hello” Dudley greeted, shifting awkwardly, in school he liked to think he was confident but when it came to meeting people without threats than he was pretty timid.

“Quiet then? Applewood perhaps” he considered picking out several wands all the while muttering to himself. “Try this one?” he suggested.

Dudley took it unsure what to do with it “wave it” Harry said and Dudley did and the air suddenly felt feather light and wind blew the door open and Dudley felt it fill him up. They all stared at him with shock.

“Um, was that bad?” Dudley asked.

“N-No, that’s the first time I’ve seen a match made so quickly, that’s filled with ghostly essence. Applewood is what it’s made of, it’s very good fit with Transfiguration and it’s made to produce a very good Patronus” he explained.

“Your eyes glowed” Lily blurted out, her expression one of awe.

Dudley touched his eyelid “don’t worry about it, we’ll figure this out, have my friend, Hermione help with research, alright?” Harry said calmly.

Dudley nodded, look at his soon and fit it in his jeans, so that was why wizard jeans had deep pockets, literally of course. They then left the store to another one where there were books. Dudley browsed around the store with Al and James behind him, Dudley bent down when he saw an interesting title. “Where Myth of Muggles and Truth of Wizards collide: the truth of the legends” he turned to the title page, Merlin, the fae, witches and wizards, dragons and the tales that go with them.

Dudley looked and flipped pages to see some of the beautifully illustrated pictures that belonged with a chapter. It was a hefty book and he had no idea what it cost, he hadn’t really learned wizarding money yet. He and started to put it back “you want it?” Al asked keeping him from putting it on the shelf.

“It looks interesting but your dad has already bought me a lot of stuff, I don’t want to push it” Dudley replied.

“It’s fine, if you hadn’t noticed your room is a bit drab” Al replied.

“Yeah, having something to do for fun is something dad would approve of. It’s not like a big deal since once you’ve got all the books and clothes then you’re done, you can get things as you like” James agreed.

“You don’t think he’ll be mad?” Dudley asked.

“Have you met our dad, like honestly, didn’t you grow up with him?” Al asked.

“I did but our relationship wasn’t great, my parents hated magic and I- I was a pig” Dudley said, his hand clasped the book tightly for support.

“Is that what he meant at the dinner table?” James asked intensely.

“I um, I used to be really fat and selfish and all Harry got living with us was my hand me downs, a closet he used to live in and dishes he’d clean,” Dudley replied.

“Dad has a lot of old enemies and he gets along fine with them, I think you should stop judging yourself on what you used to be like.

Despite what some people think, people do change, they grow up or rather grow down” Al said considering Dudley’s circumstances.

“How’d you guys get so wise, you’re kids?” he asked.

“Years of tales from our parents, they want us to learn lessons vicariously through them” James shrugged.

Dudley smiled and walked back to Ginny and Harry, they were having a lovers quarrel on some book versus another. Ginny was the first to notice “yes dear?” she asked.

“Um I was wondering if it’s alright if I could get a book f-for myself. Just- um” he had never done this, as a kid he’d always demanded for
thing he wanted but to ask politely was something he was a little nervous about.

“Absolutely, you need some more personal items in your room, with the way it is now it’s a little depressing like a guest room” Ginny said.

“It was a guest room” Harry pointed out and Ginny swatted his arm and gave him a glare that didn’t contain her slightly amusement and it made Dudley smile.

He tagged along while they picked out journals, things he’d need for home study to catch him up before Hogwarts. Quarrelling about one author versus another, it was a little foreign, his parents seemed so unusual by comparison.

His mother agreeing to everything his father said, he wondered if it was why he hated confrontations. Why he was shy when it came to people, “Dudley” he blinked to find Harry and Ginny’s eyes on him. “Are you alright, you weren’t there for a minute” he asked.

“Uh, yeah, m’fine just thinking, sorry” he said, glancing behind him when all three Potter kids walked up.

“Okay, well, we’ll get things paid for and then go buy some clothes that fit” Ginny said.

Dudley nodded, Lily let out an excited squeal and he hoped there were some clothing stores with things that wouldn’t make him look

stupid. He didn’t look so good with dressy things.

They walked into a store called “Malkins: Dress robes and attire for every occasion.” Dudley blinked for a second, the store was bigger than it looked from the outside and he looked at Harry with wide eyes. Then he grinned “it’s bigger on the inside” he said.

Harry laughed “you see all this and that’s what you come up with, really Dudley, and a Doctor Who quote, too?” he asked.

Dudley shrugged as if saying ‘I had to’ and was then promptly dragged to teen boys section by Lily and was followed by Albus and James.

“Okay according to mum’s list you need at least 8 pairs of casual pants, do you like jeans or cargo pants?” Lily asked.

Dudley picked a couple types of jeans, low rise, skinny, boot, and decide he liked low rise, the regular type of jeans best and he picked a couple pairs of cargo pants which were exactly like jeans except more pockets. He got dark green, 2 tan, and brown cargo pants.

He had a lot more fun picking out shirts, besides the robe section the store was just like a muggle store with the exception of the wizarding music artists and Quidditch teams. He then picked out 3 pairs of shoes and he couldn’t resist a dark green beanie he found.

“Ready?” Ginny asked looking at the pile of clothes Dudley and the rest had picked out for him.

“Mm” he nodded glancing at the case, were those? They were! Dudley had thought about getting gages before the whole war thing started.

Plus the gages they had were the coolest things ever. One set looked like a blue Supernova star, like the animations on the computer but still it was pulsing.

“Oh? Did you want to get your ears pierced?” Ginny asked.

“You’d let me?” Dudley asked.

“Sure, Dominique got gages just last month, a cousin you’ve yet to meet” she added.

“Yes” Dudley said.

“Alright, let’s just get these at the paid for first and then I’ll have someone do them for you” she said.

“I think they will fit you” Al mentioned as they got to the desk and a woman was tallying up money. Dudley smiled, today was a really good day.

By the time Harry had wandered back to them, Dudley had the Supernova gages in his ears. “Those are cool” he said after a moment of
surprise had passed.

“Thank you so much” Dudley told them all.

“No problem, dear, not when you look so happy” Ginny replied ruffling his hair. Yeah, today was a good day.