The Last Horcrux

The Magic Lesson

Remus and Dudley were in the greenhouse practicing with Dudley's new wand. Remus was coaching him in charms work; repairing broken teacups, warming and cooling charms, vanishing spells, that sort of thing. What Remus thought of as bread and butter magic, useful spells that came in handy for ordinary life.

Dudley was surprisingly talented for someone who had never been aware that they possessed magic. Remus had seen him conjure a patronus effortlessly (it was a hippopotamus). He had seen Dudley throw stunners with ease during the Battle of Hogwarts. He was a bit uneven, though. With more basic magic, he was struggling.

"Bollocks it!" Dudley grumbled. "It just won't mend right! It's all jagged." He glared at the broken teacup he was trying to repair. It looked like it had been glued together by a ten year old on drugs.

"Have a break," said Remus. He sat down on a bag of dragon dung. He picked up a flask and poured out tea into two unbroken cups. The plants around them were glowing green in the bright winter sunshine that was pouring through the glass ceiling. The air felt moist and alive. Outside it was a bitter January day. The ground was icy and frozen like a rock, but in the greenhouse all was warm, moist and growing

Dudley sat down with a groan in the old wicker armchair and accepted a cup from Remus.

"I don't know why I can't get it right," said Dudley. "You lot make it look so easy."

"We all had to learn once," said Remus. "You're just catching up. I know you can call forth stunners when you need to. I've seen you in action. And you figured out how to cast a patronus all on your own."

"That's different," said Dudley glumly. "That was war. I cast those stunners to save Draco. And my patronus.... Well, I couldn't let those dementors get Mr. Sev, remember?"

Remus did remember. In the heat of the battle Sev had been surrounded by dementors. He had very nearly been kissed. Draco and Dudley's patronuses had saved him in the nick of time.

"Some people's magic works best under emotional duress," mused Remus. "Maybe that's just the kind of wizard you are. It's not a bad thing, really."

"All these warming and repairing charms, they're useful, I guess," said Dudley. "But I'm not sure as I see the need for them. I can turn on the cooker when I want to heat something up, get out the glue when I break a teacup." Dudley sighed and sipped his tea. "Don't get me wrong, Mr. Moony. I love magic. I'm glad I can do it. And I love my new wand. It's just....."

"You're not really feeling it."

"No."

"It's all right. Not everyone does. I think your magic will be there when you really need it. Maybe we need to focus more on defensive spells. We should get Sev to train you in dueling."

"Now we're talking!" said Dudley.

"Maybe we should lay off for the rest of the day. Want to help me transplant these hellebore seedlings?"

"Sure."

Dudley had always liked helping Remus in the greenhouse. They worked companionably together. The hellebore plants, with their lacy blue green foliage, were delicate. It took concentration to properly transplant them. Remus was used to Dudley's near silent companionship. He found it relaxing. So he was surprised when Dudley cleared his throat and said awkwardly "Haven't you ever thought of getting married?"

"Married?" said Remus, looking up at him. His cheeks were decidedly pink. "You mean, to Sev?"

"Yeah," said Dudley. He was looking down at the tray of seedlings, focusing intently on the task of removing them and placing them in small pots.