+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

************

Chapter 54: The Next Generation

************

Godric’s Hollow

September 1st, 2009

Eleven years later …

“You kids get in here right now,” Harry yelled out the back door as the “Hogwarts Express” chugged by with its precious cargo onboard. Harry, with Molly Weasley, Ginny, and Fleur at his side, had to stop and laugh at the sight in the backyard. Here was a huge Python who had been painted in red watercolor paints by a bunch of young witches and wizards (who were no more afraid of it than a puppydog); and who let them sit on its back while it slithered through the backyard making hissing sounds like a train, and them cheering it on like a bunch of wild indians.

“We have to go now, Nagini, or they’ll be late,” said Harry in Parseltongue to the family pet, or one of them at least. Buckbeak was out there flying around over the woods somewhere too, probably with old Crookshanks riding on his back. It had always struck Harry odd that those two had become such fast friends, but they had. Hedwig was somewhere out there too, enjoying her retirement. She had taken up with a nice looking male snowy owl sometime back and they started turning out nests full of owlets each year. Harry saw her every now and then.

“I know, but I’ll miss them so,” the great snake replied sadly as the steam train slowly hissed into the station for her passengers to depart.

“They’ll be back tomorrow, all except James, Molly and Lillian. They are the only ones leaving today, they are starting school at Hogwarts tomorrow and I want them to get to ride the real Hogwarts Express like the other children do.”

In like little lemmings they marched, their father kissing each one on the forehead. Harry had always wanted a large family and he was not disappointed. There were nine little Potter’s now, by four different mothers. Harry hadn’t intended it to be that way, it just sort of happened. The members of the coven wanted babies, and Harry had obliged. Now he literally had a house full.

They were definitely a non-traditional family, even among magi, but they were a very loving and functional family. There had been a few gripes about Harry having a polyamorous relationship with a wife and three consorts, but the gripes were mostly by some very jealous, and horny, wizards who were unable to land a decent looking witch in their own beds. But as Harry was only legally married to one of them, Ginny, and the others were there of their own accord, there was no grounds for any action.

It also hadn’t hurt the quashing of complaints when a certain snobby member of the Wizengamot, who had made such comments publicly, suddenly found himself and his wife barred from any establishment in which Harry had any ownership. For life! Not only had this ruined the poor sod politically, but socially and personally. Because now they were magically banned in most of the up market salons, clubs, pubs, and restaurants in Godric’s Hollow where the elite liked to meet, and especially the Golden Unicorn. His fashion conscious, pureblood, trophy wife divorced him because she could no longer enter Madam Chang’s Boutiques for the haute couture clothing and lingerie that was all the fashion rage among witches. Nor could she buy LILY by Delacour, the perfume every upper class witch of good fashion taste wore now, which was customized for each customer. To be seen in public without these was an inexcusable fashion faux pas for a trendy witch.

The power to do this came about because Harry’s inherited wealth had been a source of venture capital during the rebuilding of Godric’s Hollow and Hogsmeade. Harry had shown remarkable business acumen choosing in whom to invest and in choosing a partnership with a share of the profits over a fixed return. Most of his gambles had paid off monetarily and politically. Nearly every new business in Godric’s Hollow, and the rebuilt and expanded Hogsmeade, included Harry as a partner in ownership, and regularly contributed a share of its profits into Harry’s immense suite of vaults at Gringotts bank. Harry was so bloody rich that he became the first ever non-goblin asked to join the Board of Directors of the bank.

Over the years, Harry had developed a reputation as a man who was loving to his family, generous to his friends, and brutal to his enemies. Harry never used his influence against those who had legitimate political differences against him, but he tolerated no attacks on his personal life or his family. For that, Harry was widely respected, and feared. Nobody in their right minds would have dared refer to the children not born of Ginny as bastards.

Harry looked over his brood with pride as their mother’s prepared them for the trip to the train station. Fleur Dumbledore had borne him James Albus (11, the eldest child, known always as James), and Desiree (8, who was called Desi). Ginny Weasley Potter bore Molly (11), Sirius (9, whom Ginny had originally wanted to call Harry James junior, but Harry thought it sounded retarded to call someone Little Harry or Junior), and Arthur William (6, who was always called Bill). Hermione Granger bore Lily Anne (11, who quickly became known as just Lillian), and Ronald (7, whom she called Ronald as she could never bear to just call him Ron).

Luna Lovegood had borne Harry two beautiful blonde daughters. The eldest was named Loretta in honor of Luna’s mum. Called Lori by the family, she had just turned 10, and would make the trek to Hogwarts with her older siblings next fall. Last, but certainly not least in her father’s eye, the youngest by three months of Harry’s children was also by Luna. She had asked Harry for another child hoping for a boy, but had been willing to allow the fruit of their joining to nature. The result had been yet another girl named Merry Lynn who was now 6 years old. Luna had chosen that name because she thought that would be a suitable feminine version of Merlin’s name (which is what she had intended to name the baby if it had been a boy).

By all accounts, Merry Lynn was the apple of her father’s eye, and, according to her siblings, her father’s favorite, and spoiled rotten by him. However, despite their maternal differences, the common paternal factor of the children’s lives drew them together. Even Harry remarked at how well his offspring got along with each other despite having such very different mothers.

They truly saw themselves as one large family named Potter where each child had a mother and three ‘aunties’ who were their mum’s coven sisters. That they were the progeny of Harry Potter was never a matter of doubt to anyone who saw them, all nine children had Harry’s trademark brilliant emerald green eyes. All nine knew that their father loved them. Moreover, each child had an extended family of official and unofficial Aunts and Uncles, including Remus and Poppy, Charlie and Alicia, George and Gabrielle, Neville, and Percy. All nine referred to Molly Weasley and Desiree Delacour as Grandmum, along with grandpa Xeno and the Grangers.

Having been denied love as a child, Harry did his best to show his affection for all his children by being lavish with his time. Despite his great wealth, he tried not to spoil them with material things, though his family and friends never lacked for anything they needed. Harry eventually made the villa in Godric’s Hollow into a luxury country club and resort with the elves as staff. He then built a beautiful new home on the mountains above Hogsmeade and opposite Hogwarts, overlooking the lake. Godric’s Hollow had become too noisy and raucous; Harry wanted a more peaceable place to raise his family. The new villa was larger with rooms for all his family and friends, Molly moved in to supervise the nannies looking after the children as their mums were often away during the days on business. She returned only rarely to the site where the Burrow had once stood. When she did, it was only to tend the four graves of her family there. Percy would often accompany her.

The extended family now included George and Gabrielle’s three children; the twins, Fred (called Freddie), and Rosealia (called Rose), and the youngest, George Jr. As well as Charlie and Alicia’s two children. Remus Lupin and Poppy soon had a son named Teddy, and twin daughters. Percy never recovered from the treatment he had received even though Harry arranged for him to have the best medical help possible. The family forgave him for what he had done, and he was accepted with love in their midst at all family gatherings. In time he was able to perform a few very simple spells. He became a committed bachelor uncle to his many nieces and nephews.

Under Harry’s governance, and Remus Lupin’s leadership, Hogwarts had blossomed into one of the premier wizarding academies in the world. The new Hogwarts was completely modernized to include all the muggle wizardry of computers, cell phones, and even ball point pens. By unanimous vote, the Board of Trustees, confirmed a lifetime tenure Remus J. Lupin as the Headmaster. Poppy took her place in the hospital ward as school nurse during the day, and in the Headmaster’s bed as a contented wife and mother during the night.

Percy was given Filch’s old job as custodian and reverted back almost to his old “Head Boy” pompousness with the students who made trouble. Neville briefly took the position of Herbology Professor at Hogwarts, but then went into business producing his own WWWW potion herb business and became very wealthy in his own right. His magic herbs grown using dragon dung were quite famous for their potency, and as a popular preventative of glaucoma. Harry still saw his old apprentice now and again, but Neville mostly split his time now between his houses in San Francisco and Key West.

Luna took the position of Professor of Magical Creatures, and, with Fang, served as Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. Harry had a beautiful home built in Hogsmeade near the entrance to Hogwarts, and gave it to Luna and their daughters. Balzhoff returned to the Aurors for a few years then retired. When Rolanda Hooch retired from the Inquisitor General’s position, she and Ripa bought Professor McGonagall’s old hideaway home as their own country retreat.

Headmaster Lupin had handled the position of Defense against the Dark Arts Professor for about four years until he informed the Board that the double load was too much for a middle-aged werewolf with a family to raise. Harry’s biggest surprise as Chairman of the Board of Trustees was the finalist applicant for the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor that Remus had nominated, Pansy Parkinson. Even now, after seven years in the job, she still had that annoying better-than-you smirk on her face, but there was no denying that she knew how to kick dark wizard arse. She was even the head of Slytherin house. That she was still a spy for the Inquisition no one doubted.

Finally arriving at Kings Cross station, Harry led the group through the rain that was falling outside, amongst strange stares from the muggles, to the crossover point. Once on the railway platform Harry felt the old memories flood back. He now received even stranger stares as he walked through the assembled crowd of parents. They stepped to the side for him and greeted him as “Sir” and “Good day, Lord Potter.” Then they would whisper to their children and then point at Harry, the children would stare with bulging eyes at him.

Looking around the station Harry saw, and spoke to, a number of old school acquaintances who were now bringing their own children to Hogwarts. Several cars down from where Harry stood he saw a figure approaching that he hadn’t expected to see there. It was Millicent Bulstrode leading a dark haired girl by the hand and helping her push a trolley loaded with school supplies. Millicent looked to have fallen on hard times. She was wearing rather worn robes, and some of the school textbooks for her little girl looked to have been bought second hand. It reminded him a bit of when Ginny had left for her first year.

The little girl looked over at Harry and just stared at him for a bit. She didn’t favor her mother too much, she had long raven black hair tied back in a ponytail that extended to her waist, and piercing dark eyes. She was a bit tall for her age, like her mum, but slim. She had a look that said she knew what it was to go to bed hungry, but appeared decently well nourished now. There was something about her that seemed familiar to Harry, something about those eyes, but he couldn’t place what it was. Millicent followed the girl’s gaze over to Harry. She stared at him for a moment, and then nodded as a courtesy. Harry returned the nod and watched as Millicent directed the girl onto the train. As the luggage was whisked away, Millicent quickly glanced back at Harry once more, and then disappeared into the crowd.

As their trunks were loaded onto the train, Harry gave each of his three departing children a final hug and told them to mind the professors. Ginny, Fleur, and Gran Molly all told them goodbye. Looking around the crowd, Harry finally spotted Hermione about the time she saw them. She had hurried over from her office in the Ministry building to give them all a hug and wish them well, and to give Lillian a special going away kiss from mummy.

“Was that Millicent Bulstrode I just saw putting her child on the train?” Hermione asked.

“Yes,” answered Harry. “A little girl, not bad looking either.”

“So little Elissa must take after her father then, whoever he was,” Hermione said sourly while Ginny nodded in agreement. “Makes me wonder though who was hard up enough to stick it in Millicent.”

“Nobody knows who the father is?” asked Harry.

“Nope, apparently she was knocked up and abandoned,” answered Hermione.

“Wouldn’t be the first baby fathered by Ogden’s Old Firewhiskey,” laughed Fleur, while Molly scolded them all for saying such things in front of the other children.

“It is a sad situation though, I’ve seen her name pop up in the case files, she’s had a few minor brushes with the law, petty stuff. She’s had a hard time getting by, nearly had the child taken from her by the Ministry a couple of times when she was living on the streets. Somehow she manages.”

Hermione was the one who would have known such things. She had stayed with the Ministry and, as Hooch had once predicted, had risen quickly. The Inquisition had been drastically reorganized after Voldemort’s fall with much, but not all, of its powers of persuasion taken away, or restricted. Hermione had transferred into the prosecution branch and had become an Interrogator in the courtroom. To the surprise to no one who knew her, she quickly displayed a profound knowledge of the law, and a rare talent for legal argument. Her reputation had grown so that when the Ministry decided two years earlier that it needed to create a more modern muggle style judicial branch, Miss. Hermione Granger was the youngest candidate by nearly fifteen years to be selected for appointment to the bench.

Since then, Her Honorable Ladyship, Madam Granger, had earned a fearsome reputation as a judge. Harry grinned as he thought back to the first time he had received a ‘court order’ to appear in Her Honorable Ladyship’s private chambers, and found her honor sitting there in a high backed leather chair waiting for him in black robes, black boots, powered white wig, and nothing else. She had ordered Harry to kneel and throw himself on the mercy of the court. Of course, being a good citizen, Harry believed one must always obey the law.

Once the children and their luggage were loaded it was time for the Hogwarts express to start its run. Harry quickly stepped on board long enough to talk to the trolley witch. He handed her a stack of gold Galleons and told her that the treats were on him this trip, just to make sure that every child was equally treated. A few moments later the train whistle blew and the Hogwarts express began taking a new generation of witches and wizards on their first great adventure. Harry’s eyes were filled with tears as he watched it disappear into the horizon.

Turning, he got the rest of his crew in gear to go back home with a promise of a side trip to Godric’s Hollow to visit Grandmum Desiree, and a delicious lunch at Burger-Wizard (of which Harry quietly owned a one-fifth interest and it was good for business for a celebrity such as himself to be seen eating there). As they hurried to the gate, Harry heard someone he knew call his name. It was his old Gryffindor Quidditch teammate Oliver Wood and his wife Penelope. They had just put their eldest on the train as well. Oliver told Harry that he had something important for him to look at, and handed him a written note.

“You have got to be kidding me,” said Harry with a smile as he read the words written there. “And he’s here now, just outside?”

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Dudley Dursley stood in the rain at the entranceway to King’s Cross Station. He remembered they had always come there on this particular day to drop his cousin off. Harry had then disappeared inside the station with his trolley and his odd kit loaded on it. There had been a big trunk, and the cage with a big bird, some sort of owl he thought, then other odd gear including a broomstick.

He’d always wondered if they truly did ride on those things or not. The few times he had ever tried to talk to Mum about Harry she had went into near hysterics, going on about how odd he was and it was best to forget about him. But Dudley hadn’t been able to forget about his cousin. On his seventeenth birthday Harry had left them for good, to his parents it had been good riddance, and he had to admit he had felt that way too at the time.

A year after Harry left, Dudley’s father had collapsed at the dinner table and died of a massive heart attack. Mum just seemed to change for the worst after that. She became even more bitter. She even blamed Dad’s heart attack on all the stress Harry had supposedly caused him over the years. Dudley supposed the fact that dad weighed over 400 pounds, never exercised, smoked, and ate a fatty diet had little to do with it in her mind.

Still, it had been the beginning of a wakeup call to Dudley. His father’s insurance left him with money to attend proper schooling, but he only succeeded in being expelled because of his poor academic aptitude and bullying attitude. His true reformation had begun the night the Old Bill finally nicked him with some cocaine in his pocket. That landed him in the dock.

Given the choice of jail or the military, Dudley had chosen the army. He was “Big D” after all; he figured he’d show that lot something. His first night in barracks he’d tried to bully a smaller bloke over a lower tier bunk and had gotten the shit beat out of him as a result. Complaining to the sergeant had gotten him extra duty for being a whining little snitch. Told that he was too fat, the army had put him on a diet and intensive training regimen.

It took a lot of work, and some more beatings, but by the time he completed his training, Private Dursley actually had the makings of a real man. He came to embrace the military life and the discipline it offered him, and planned to stay in the military for twenty and become a pensioner. By the time of his deployment to Afghanistan in early 2002, as part of the British military contingent following the September 11th attacks on the United States, he had become Corporal Dursley, and was in command of an armored personnel carrier. Two weeks into the beginnings of hostilities against the Taliban, his unit was assigned to probe an area held by hostile forces. Dudley commanded the lead vehicle in the assault, and, almost immediately, it was hit by several rocket-propelled grenades.

The vehicle was knocked out of action, the driver was killed, and the remaining crew all seriously wounded. The flash of the blasts left Dudley unable to see, while the concussion had injured his back leaving him unable to move his legs. After nearly three years of training, Dudley only spent five minutes in actual combat. Blinded and paralyzed, Dudley was told the surgeons believed that he might recover his eyesight and legs with time and therapy, but he was unfit for further military service. Dudley would receive a medical discharge after his recuperation. His military career was over, but a new life was just starting.

Returned home, Dudley lay in the hospital terrified of the future. What if his eyes didn’t heal? What if the nerve damage to his back was permanent? What future was there for a blind cripple on the dole? Dudley did a great deal of soul searching for several weeks as he lay there in the dark waiting for the bandages to come off his eyes. There was only one bright moment in his day, a young nurse’s aid named Agatha would come by and read to him. They would talk about what interested them and found they shared some interests. They quickly became close friends.

On the day when the bandages came off, Dudley was elated that he could see again. At last he was able to see his new friend, but she wasn’t quite what he had expected. He had imagined her with movie star beauty, but she was a bit plainer looking. Still, she was a slim and pretty brunette, with the most beautiful golden brown eyes. Her front teeth were slightly large, but she had a wonderful loving heart. They ‘dated,’ as they called it, around the hospital grounds while Dudley underwent daily physical training to learn how to walk again. He responded well to the therapy and in a few months’ time he was able to walk reasonable distances with only a slight limp. Told that he could leave the hospital for short periods, Dudley finally asked Agatha to go out on a real date with him and she agreed.

It had been well over a year since Dudley had last had sex, his entire body ached for release, but he was unsure of his ability to perform due to the injury. That night Agatha carried him back to her flat and lay with him on her bed. Dudley was more terrified at that moment than he had been going into battle.

Somehow this wonderful loving woman knew his fears and was determined to return his confidence in his manhood to him. She slowly undressed before him and gently mounted him. Just entering her felt so good to Dudley that he began to shiver and cry like a child. Gently she moved up and down on his cock, her vaginal muscles clenching and releasing Dudley’s swollen shaft. His need was such that he had no control, in less than a minute he moaned loudly as he climaxed. For nearly an hour afterwards, she simply held him close to her breast and felt his warm tears of relief trickle down her soft flesh.

“I’m still a man,” thought Dudley as he wept unabashedly. “I can see again, I can walk again, and I’m still a man.”

After a few more dates, Dudley was able to take the dominant position in lovemaking and bring Agatha to her own pleasure. Within a few weeks, Dudley announced to her that he had fallen hopelessly in love with her and begged her on bended knee to become his wedded wife. To his immense joy he found that she had formed like feelings for him, and that night Miss. Agatha Granger consented to become Mrs. Dudley Dursley. They were married within a month of his final discharge with Agatha already more than a month along with their first child.

That night, after they had made love, Dudley lay in bed with his beloved Aggie discussing the possibilities of names from family members for their baby. It was then that Aggie told him that her family had a secret; she had an “odd cousin.” It seemed that her father’s brother had a daughter named Hermione who had been born different from everyone else, and had been sent off to a special school for odd children called Hogwarts. Aggie said her parents rarely spoke of the child, and she had only seen her a few times during the holidays at family gatherings. It was then that Dudley had shared his own family secret about his own “odd cousin” named Harry, who had been sent to the same school. They had thought little more about it than as a strange coincidence.

Eight months later, Dudley met the second great love of his life as his darling Aggie presented him with a beautiful baby daughter, whom they named Angelique. For the first time in his life, Dudley Dursley knew real happiness and contentment. He had a modest home with a loving wife, a beautiful healthy daughter, and a decent job at the company his dad had worked at for many years. For six years it had all been such a blissful existence, until that night a month ago, when —it— had happened.

It had been Little Angie’s bedtime, but she had wanted to keep playing with her impressive collection of Barbie dolls. Dudley had put the dolls away in the closet while she had cried, and then he had tucked her into bed. When he came in a little later to check on her, she was asleep in her bed, along with all her dolls. Dudley was perturbed; Angie had gotten up and retrieved the dolls after he had put them up. Dudley had returned the toys to the topmost closet shelf while Angie had started crying again. He had told her sternly to go to sleep. A few minutes later Aggie had called him to the nursery. There she asked him why he hadn’t put away Angie’s dolls for the night.

“I did put them away, darling,” he replied, “just a few minutes ago.”

Following her gaze Dudley saw that the dolls were back in the bed again. This time when the dolls went back to the closet Dudley and Aggie waited just outside the room to see how Angie was getting them down from the shelf, and catch her in the act. Inside, Angie continued to cry and reach for the closet, in a couple of minutes the closet door opened by itself and the dolls floated out in midair to her bed. Surrounded by her dolls again, Angie was soon asleep

Dudley and Agatha simply stared in disbelief at one another, but there was no denying it. Somehow, someway, the “oddness gene” that ran in both their families had surfaced in Angie. They sat there weeping in the dark as they watched her sleeping peacefully. The poor child seemed so happy in the ignorance of her affliction, but the truth was undeniable. Their daughter was a witch!

It had taken them both some time to come to grips with the notion that she really was a witch. They both knew that they loved their daughter, and they finally decided that they could accept her — oddness. The problem was that there were no books in the shops on how to raise a witch. Dudley and Agatha knew that the only help had to come from the secret world their cousins had disappeared into when they became adults. As he saw that the first of September was only a week away, Dudley had come up with a plan to try and contact his cousin. Maybe Harry would help him.

Now it was the first of September, the day Harry had always left to go to school. Dudley didn’t know where to go inside the station so he was waiting outside looking for likely couples dropping off children. It was about the same time as Harry had been required to be there when he saw a well dressed, obviously affluent, young couple approaching with a boy who looked to be about Harry’s age when he had first went. As they got close enough to him, Dudley could overhear the couple’s conversation.

“Now remember, Angus, I want you to give us a call on your mobile tonight after the feast and tell us which house you were sorted into, if you need money for anything just use your Gringotts debit card at the ATM,” said the father. “Of course, we know you are going to be put in Gryffindor, all the Woods have been Gryffindor men. By tomorrow you’ll have that scarlet and gold lion crest on your chest just like your old dad, and granddad before you. Remember to try out for the Quidditch team too, even if you are a first year. You have natural talent in that area.”

“Well all the Clearwaters were Ravenclaws and damned proud of it,” snapped the boy’s mother. “Don’t be so damned sure he’s going into Gryffindor, he’s got a fair sight of his Mum in him.”

“His Mum’s stubbornness maybe.”

Looking down at her son the mother smiled sweetly and asked, “Darling, would you like for mummy to show you how to do the Buttuglius hex on daddy? It’s quite simple.”

“That’s not funny, Penelope.”

“He thought it was hilarious the last time I did it to you. With your big ears and long nose, and hairy warts all over your face, you looked like a big ugly house elf, and as I recall, you couldn’t break my spell either. You stayed that way until I released you the next day — AFTER your annual board meeting.”

Then they began to notice that they were the object of attention of a strange looking muggle by the entrance.

“Excuse me, Sir,” said Dudley as stepped forward. “I’m a muddle, and I need some help with contacting a non-muddle.”

“I think the word you want is muggle,” said Oliver Wood, a bit suspiciously, “not muddle, and what makes you think I can help?”

“Today’s the day the train leaves for Hogwarts, and that’s where they play the Quidditch game on brooms, the owls carry the post, and they have the Gryffindor house and such.”

“So what is it you want?”

“Do you know Harry Potter? I’m his cousin; he lived with my family for 16 years. I have a family emergency and need to speak to him.”

“Ay, I know Harry Potter, I went to school with him. I know about you too. All the nasty things you did to him. I wouldn’t be betting he wants to talk to you or any of your lot anytime soon.”

“Sir, I don’t deny I treated him badly then, but I have changed. All that I ask is that you see to it he gets this message, if he doesn’t want to help me then he can simply refuse. Although there is someone else. My wife has family, a first cousin, who is a … well … she went to Hogwarts too, maybe she might help?”

“And who is your wife’s cousin?” asked the former Penelope Clearwater, now Mrs. Oliver Wood.

“Granger is their family name, but I forget what she said her cousin’s first name was.”

“Could it be Hermione?” asked a now bemused Oliver.

“Yes — that’s what it was, Hermione Granger.”

“So let me get this straight, you are the first cousin of Harry Potter, and your wife is the first cousin of Hermione Granger?” asked Penelope casting a suspicious eye towards her husband. “Just what exactly is the nature of this family emergency, if I may ask?”

“Ahem … well as I said, my wife and I are …muggles, six years ago we had our first child, a little girl. Her name is Angie, and now… she’s … well,” mumbled Dudley as he choked back a sob.

“Uh oh,” said Penelope with a knowing look at her husband. “She’s not like you, is she?”

“She’s a…a — witch,” said Dudley, with the final word spoken in a low hushed tone.

“It’s all right, this happens from time to time. There’s help available, give us the message, we’ll see to it that Harry and Hermione get it,” said Penelope as she walked up to Dudley and put arm around him, only to feel an involuntary shudder run through him as he tried to pull back from her. She took her arm from him and made a point of stepping away from him. “Sorry.”

“No. It’s … it’s not your fault,” said Dudley. “All my life I was taught to fear people such as you, my wife too, to a lesser degree. I love my daughter with all my heart, and I’ve determined to accept her as she is, she’s — different. I remember how badly Harry was mistreated by my parents, and by me, because he was different too. Mistakes were made and I can’t change them, but I don’t want it to happen again.”

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Dear Harry,

I know that you have no reason to remember your cousin Dudley with any fondness, but I am in desperate need of your assistance. If it will help to influence your decision in any way I would have you know that I am not the same Dudley you knew in our youth, I would hope to think that I am a better man now. I do sincerely regret the wrongs perpetrated upon you and my part in them.

Also, I do not ask this assistance for myself, but for another, one who is completely innocent of any of the many wrongs done you. It is for my little daughter, Angelique. She is like your people, she can do things just by thinking of them as you could. My wife’s maiden name is Agatha Granger, and she said that she had a cousin who went to the same school as you. I do not know if you know of her, but if you are unable, or unwilling, to help me then please see if she or another can.

I admit that I am at a loss in this, mum and dad raised me to fear people such as you. I only know that I love my daughter dearly, and that I would not see her mistreated over this as you were. Please contact me concerning what I should do.

Your Cousin,

Dudley

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Dudley trudged back to the parking garage where Aggie and Angie had waited with the car. The rain was letting up a bit and had turned into a light drizzle. Dudley wondered whether he would ever hear from Harry or not; though he really couldn’t blame him if he threw the letter in the fire after what had happened all those years ago.

“Did you find anyone to give the letter to?” asked Agatha.

“Yes, but there is no certainty we’ll get an answer back,” came the dejected sounding reply from her husband.

“Well now, I wouldn’t exactly say that,” said Harry, as he and Hermione jogged up behind him to the car.

“Harry … is it really you?” asked an amazed Dudley as he shook Harry’s hand.

“Of course, see,” replied Harry as he lifted his damp hair to show the scar on his forehead. “You know I almost didn’t recognize you, Dudley.”

“I’ve changed a lot, Harry … inside and out,” said Dudley. “May I introduce my wife, this is Agatha, and our daughter Angelique, or Angie as we call her.”

Hermione embraced Agatha as she got out of the car. “It’s good to see you again, Cousin Agatha. Hello Angie, I’m your cousin Hermione.” The four of them stood there for a minute or so while Harry and Hermione got to meet little Angie.

“Can you help us, Harry?” asked Dudley. “We love our daughter, but we don’t know what to do.”

“Well, I’m not an expert in these matters,” said a grinning Harry with a sideward glance at Hermione, “but I’d say the first thing both of you need is to get over your fear of magical people.”

“How can we do that, Harry?” asked Agatha.

“Well, do you see that Starbucks across the street?” asked Harry. “You can start by letting a witch and wizard buy you a cup of coffee.”

Agatha smiled a bit sheepishly and looked over at her husband, who returned the smile and nodded. “That sounds like a good place to start,” Dudley said, as his eyes got a bit misty. “I guess it’s time we got to know our family.”

“Family,” thought Harry as they crossed the street together, “in the end that’s what it all comes down to, knowing your family.”

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~* FINIS *~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Harry Potter and the Secret of the Golden Unicorn

*****

A/N: Thank you to all those who stayed with the story and enjoyed it. LW