####
It was summer and the breeze was nice outside. With Hannah and Susan, Dudley went out of the castle after the last class. Although the desired destination was the large tree beside the lake, best for some privacy, it quickly turned into a large gathering as he heard Harry, Hermione, and Ron joining him.
Then that led to more additions, such as Neville, Parvati, Lavender, Ginny, and even a few from Ravenclaw.
In the end, Dudley sat by the tree, his back resting against the trunk. Beside him and around him sat the others in a circle, all chatting and basking in the sunlight. Most were excited about the upcoming Triwizard tournament. Many wondered what the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang would be like.
"I'm relieved none of us have to take part," Hermione said, sitting primly with her knees folded to one side, a book balanced in her hand, right in front of Dudley.
Ron rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "Bullocks. I wanted in on it. Why'd the Ministry even bother? It's like putting the best apple right in front of us and saying we can't have a bite."
Dudley chuckled and took Hermione's side on that. "She's got a point, mate. Ever wonder why they scrapped the tournament after 1792? Too many champions ended up dead. And if it was too dangerous for them back then—when people were a lot tougher than we are now—just think how bad this Triwizard Tournament must be."
"Exactly!" Hermione exclaimed. "I read about it and…"
Hermione went on to elaborate on the history of the Triwizard tournament. For once, everyone there listened to her intently.
"Why even bother, then?" Lavender huffed. "That's like saying everyone's life matters—except the seventh years!"
"That's pretty much it," Dudley replied and raised his head high, then his arm, waving at a certain, curious blonde girl in the distance. "Luna! Here."
Probably on her hunt for some mysterious creature, the petite girl smiled and skipped over to their little crowd.
"Hi, Dudley. Hi, Harry. Hello, Ron. Hi, Hermione…"
She actually greeted everyone by their name.
"Come on, take a seat," Dudley offered.
Luna looked left and right at the circle. Then, she stepped forward between Harry and Ron and instead of sitting down, walked over to Dudley. Once in front of him, she turned around and sat down between his extended legs.
"Wha…" Even he was a little shocked by her unashamed closeness.
"Hm…"
Hannah and Susan, on his left and right, reacted by crossing their arms. If eyes could kill, this was the moment.
"What are you doing?" Dudley asked the curious girl.
But it backfired on Dudley.
In response, Luna leaned further back into him, her soft bottom smashing against his groin, and her slender back pressing into his body. Her head only reached his chin, so she reclined her head back to look up at his face. "You said take a seat, so I sat down."
She's so… Cute. Dudley looked at her face and just couldn't help his manhood from reacting to that feminine warmth. Heck, she even smelled peculiar but nice. His mind told him to wrap his arms around her doll-like frame and hold her there.
"Alright… I guess." He didn't ask her to leave as that would have revealed a tent forming in his pants. It was raging by now and he was certain she could feel it too.
Though seeing the expressions on the other girls, they didn't mind it either it seemed. Lavender was chuckling with a smirk, Hermione looked slightly uncomfortable, and Ginny was winking at Luna for some reason. As for Hannah and Susan, he only saw jealousy.
Harry didn't seem that reactive, but Ron and Neville were a different story. They couldn't stop looking at Luna's leggings-clad legs as the girl stretched her legs out straight while reclining on Dudley's bear-like frame.
"Oh, by the way, did Moody happen to show you all the Unforgivable Curses?" Dudley changed the subject.
Don't… Don't hug her waist.
The struggle was real for Dudley. Controlling that erection was impossible. He looked at Harry's face the whole time instead, trying to remember the madness that the school was soon going to face because of him.
"He did, unfortunately." Hermione recoiled, her brows knitting together. "It was absolutely unnecessary! H-He used the Killing Curse—right on my desk—just to kill a spider!"
"I wouldn't mind." Ron reacted.
Hermione sneered at her friend and gestured towards Neville, who just stared at the grass. "They're called unforgivable for a reason, Ron! They're cruel, they destroy lives—and casting one in a classroom? It's barbaric!"
"That's where you've got it wrong, Hermione," Dudley said, a bit thoughtful. "I don't think magic itself is dark or light—it's the person using it that matters. If Dumbledore used the Killing Curse in a fair duel against someone truly evil, that's justice. But if You-Know-Who did it, it'd be wicked. Locking up everyone who's ever used it without thinking about why… Well, that doesn't seem right, does it?"
Well, of course, he was against laws like that. They left decent folks without the knowledge to defend themselves, making them easy targets when those spells were turned against them. All that would do is leave good people defenseless when trouble comes knocking.
"Gotta agree there," Lavender chimed in.
"Even I agree," Ron added.
"But…" Hermione looked at Neville.
"Hermione, that's a nice thought, and it'd be great if the world were fair and honest. But it's not, is it?" Dudley said and focused on Neville. "Oh, and Neville—hang back a moment after the others go. I'd like a quick word about your parents."
Neville looked up with a confused frown. "W-What?"
"It's confidential."
As if Susan and Hannah heard his thoughts, the two girls stood up and patted their backs clean.
Dudley did the same, finally gripping Luna's thin waist with his two hands and lifting her up to her feet with him. The softness, the squishiness of her waist almost made Dudley worry that he'd break her.
Jesus! Someone needs to start feeding this girl.
He used Luna's cover to fix his erection before moving the girl away. "You know what, Neville? Let's go for a walk. Give them a bit of space to chat, yeah?"
"I'm going back to the dorms." Susan shrugged. "Still working on that study material you gave."
"I'll go help her." Hannah put her arm around Susan's shoulder.
Dudley gave them a nod and a wink. The plan was to meet after dinner for their nightly meeting, after all. And since he had unrestricted access to the Arithmancy classroom, he had all the space needed to play with the two.
Soon, Neville hesitantly followed Dudley alongside the lake.
"W-What did you want to talk about?" Neville asked, trying to pace himself but always falling behind due to his hesitant steps.
What a ruined potential. Talk about one old hag ruining a wizard's potential.
"Can I see your wand?" Dudley asked. "You can check mine if that makes it better."
Neville hesitantly took out his wand and handed it over. He'd heard nothing but great things about Dudley from Harry over the past four years, after all.
Dudley exchanged it with his own. "Damn, it's a rather nice-looking wand, isn't it?"
Neville proudly smiled and nodded. "I-It's my father's wand."
"What?" Dudley stopped short and turned to face Neville, blinking in surprise. "No wonder you suck at magic."
My acting skills are getting better.
Embarrassed, Neville didn't even respond to that belittling.
Dudley got closer and patted Neville's shoulder. "Mate, haven't you heard the first rule of wands? It's Ollivander's whole thing—the wand picks the wizard. Tell me, didn't Ron get better last year?"
Neville frowned and nodded. "H… He did, I think."
"Well, Ron was using a hand-me-down wand until he broke it in his second year. I don't know how big of a difference it causes, but owning a wand that doesn't match you has got to have some setbacks, don't you think? Why don't you buy one at Ollivanders?"
"M-My grandma won't…"
"She doesn't have to know," Dudley replied and started walking again. "Just pop into Ollivander's next time you're in Diagon Alley. Mention my name, and he'll sort you out with a wand—no charge. Owes me that much after I helped him expand to America and Europe. I've even got three shops next to his on one side and four on the other—ah, never mind that. Just do it, and you can square things with me once you've graduated and got yourself sorted, yeah?"
Neville scratched his head awkwardly. "Why are you helping me?"
"Why not? You're my friend by proxy, aren't you? And I think you can be a pretty decent wizard, it's pretty much in your blood." He hesitated for a moment before shifting the subject.
"Listen, I wanted to talk about your parents. I read up a bit on the Cruciatus Curse, and from what I gather, it fries the brain. The thing is, wizards aren't exactly advanced when it comes to treating injuries beyond flesh wounds and broken bones. So, hear me out—you should have them seen by a top-class Muggle hospital, one that specializes in brain injuries. They might be able to help in ways wizarding folk can't."
Neville understood that Dudley's intentions were kind and didn't react like he would have otherwise when someone mentioned his parents. "Muggles are that advanced?"
"Hah, mate. Muggles built machines that fly, weapons that could level Hogwarts in the blink of an eye. So yeah, they've got MRIs and all sorts of brain injury cures. I know your gran might not see it that way—probably doesn't realize how far Muggles have come. But don't let that sort of prejudice stop you. If nothing else, an MRI could at least tell you whether your parents have a chance of getting better or not."
That part hurt deeply.
Neville clenched his fist. "They really can?"
Of that, Dudley was sure. "They can, yeah. The machines can tell if the damage to the mind is too far gone. But look at it another way—if Muggle machines can spot exactly which bit of the brain is hurt, then maybe there's a potion that could heal just that bit. Mixing Muggle and magical medicine might be exactly what your parents need."
It was barely anything. But it all signified hope for Neville.
Finally, Neville inhaled a deep breath and nodded his head. "I'll try to convince my grandma. I promise."
"If you do, just give me a shout. I can tell you the right hospital and the best way to go about it. Your parents will need the proper paperwork, or the hospital might ring up the police."
"Thank you, Dudley." Neville handed back the wand.
Dudley patted his shoulder and pushed him along. "Don't say it yet. If something good comes out of it all, buy me a nice meal."
This was a long shot. Dudley had no reason to help Neville but he did it anyway. If something good came out of it he'd have the Longbottoms indebted to him. By proxy, he'd earn the gratitude of the Order of the Phoenix and most of Gryffindor.
"Let's go back now."
####
Time flew by quicker than Dudley expected. He spent most of it focused on Susan and Hannah, occasionally earning compensation from Professor Vector, and now and then offering Padma a bit of help with Potions. On top of that, he was deep in his own practical implementation of Professor Vector's research. There wasn't much room left in his days for anything but progress.
Before he knew it, the 30th of October had arrived, marking the start of the Triwizard Tournament.
The Beauxbatons students, led by their headmistress, Madame Maxime, arrive in a magnificent, light-blue carriage the size of a house, pulled by a dozen winged Abraxans. The students coming out of it were dressed elegant and graceful, wearing fine silk robes, and they shivered in the cold Scottish air right away.
Dudley laughed from the balcony, admiring the magical carriage more than the occupants. He pondered how much it'd cost to buy.
Soon after, Durmstrang made its entrance in an equally striking fashion. Led by Igor Karkaroff, arrived with his students in a massive, enchanted ship that emerged from the depths of the Black Lake.
Unlike the Beauxbatons students, the Durmstrang students were dressed in heavy furs.
"What are they, monks?" Dudley commented, chewing on some caramel popcorn he'd made himself. "Let's just go back to the Great Hall. It's gonna be a neat feast tonight."
"Seriously? The food excites you more than students from another magical school?" Susan asked, truly baffled by how her secret lover remained so calm while the rest of the school buzzed with excitement.
Dudley gave a small shrug. "Well, aside from how we talk and what we wear, is it really that different? We learn the same spells, don't we?"
"You sound like an old man sometimes." Susan smacked his arm away from her waist and grabbed Hannah before running over to watch the two schools enter.
Dudley sighed and went to the Great Hall, taking his seat at the Hufflepuff table. Thankfully, the food was already on the table, likely meant to be decoration. So, he fetched himself a nice slice of pumpkin pie.
Slowly, the entire Great Hall was filled with students of Hogwarts. Susan and Hannah joined him again on each of his sides. After that, the professors also arrived, including the Minister for Magic and…
What the… Lily?
To Dudley's shock, he saw Lily entering behind the Minister for Magic. There was also Lucius Malfoy for some reason, glaring at Lily the whole time.
What did she do now?
Clack!
Then, the large gates opened.
"Join me…" Dumbledore's voice roared. "In welcoming the lovely students of Beauxbatons."
Dudley watched intently, expecting an over-the-top, cringy entrance with Fleur at the lead.
He was left disappointed. The Beauxbatons students walked in normally, just waving at the Hogwarts students all around.
Should have known once I saw the boys in their group too. Dudley munched on another piece of pie. Even from that distance, he saw Fleur appearing out of the ordinary. It was as if she was the center of attention from the get-go. All of the Hogwarts boys nearby were swooning over her, while the girls seemed annoyed.
I don't see Gabrielle this time.
Soon, the Beauxbatons students sat down at the Ravenclaw table.
"Now, our friends from the North. Please greet the proud students of Drumstrang and their headmaster, Igor Karkaroff."
Once again, the Drumstrang students walked in normally and took a seat at the Slytherin table, fitting to their style.
"That was anticlimactic," Dudley murmured.
But then, he suddenly smelled something strange. Something extremely nice, as if spring itself. Flowers too.
"Ehmm… Monsieur Dursley?"
Fuck!
His head snapped to the side and there she was, in that silky dress, tall and feminine, silver-blonde hair with that ethereal Veela glow, Fleur Delacour.
"Ah, Ms. Delacour." Dudley stood up, and as she gave him her hand, he held it and tapped a polite kiss, a common greeting for her. But it was surely too much for the rest of the eyes focused on him. No, they were focused on her.
"Mon condolénces for what 'as 'appened, Monsieur Dursley. I am sure you must be devastated to 'ave lost your fazzer." Fleur paid respect to Vernon, and from the look on her face, it was genuine concern.
"Thank you. And please, Dudley is fine." He tried to respond as formally as possible and send her away.
But Fleur eyed Hannah and Susan and then looked back at Dudley. "May I sit wiz you?"
Dudley's face fell. He felt it sharply on his back. A thousand eyes striking him like daggers.
Goddamnit, now every guy in the school hates me.
______________________
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