Book One: Dudley's Memories

Chapter Two

"Can I get you something?" called Dudley from the kitchen, "I can make some tea, or coffee."

"Tea would be lovely." Ginny supplied, watching Harry who found himself voiceless. Had Dudley really just offered Harry tea?

Dudley entered the living room having changed into a tidy lavender shirt with black trousers.

The three wizards still stood near the mantlepeice. Dudley's eyes flicked to the portrait, "Saw that already, did you?" he asked quietly, "It's the best I could do."

"You did that?" asked Harry astonished.

"Yes. I.." a tinny version of a song Harry thought he recognized as an old Beatles tune began playing from somewhere, interrupting Dudley. Ginny and Minerva looked around the room for the source as well.

Dudley reached into his pocket, "Sorry, I need to take this." he said, apologetically.

Out of his pocket Dudley took a small black device. He looked at it, pressed a button on it with his thumb, held it up to his ear like a telephone. After moment, Harry realized it was a telephone. Harry remembered that the mobile phones had been becoming common when he'd last been to muggle London. He also remembered Hermione trying to make one work for her. It'd taken alot of effort-in the end she'd had to make a magic one from scratch since the magic seemed to interefere with the electronics in the devices-they kept coming to rather incendiary ends.

"Hello, sweetheart." Dudley paused, sighed, "You're kidding." pause, Dudley shook his head, "All right, we'll sort it. Is Eleanor all right?" Dudley smiled apparently with relief, "Good. Listen, love, my cousin's here." Whoever was on the other end of the phone exclaimed loudly, "Yes. Not sure how long." Dudley looked at Harry, "You don't mind meeting the family?"

"Uh, No, we..." Harry replied, then stopped as Dudley turned away. He looked a little desperately towards Ginny and Minerva who both shrugged, equally at a loss.

"All right, see you in a minute." Dudley said into the phone. He clicked the button and put it back in his pocket.

Minerva cleared her throat, "I beg your pardon, Mr. Dursley, but we have actually come on some business about your daughter, Eleanor." wanting to bring the meeting back to the point.

Dudley was brought up short, "Eleanor?" he said blankly, "Eleanor? What about her?"

The three wizards looked at each other. Ginny started to speak, but Harry beat her to it, "Dudley, she's a witch."

Harry waited for the explosion. Harry waited for any kind of reaction.

Dudley stood completely still, looking not unlike the last time Harry had seen him, as if he were processing a concept just a little too difficult to understand. He opened his mouth after a second, but nothing came out.

The kettle began to shriek.

"Would you...stay for dinner? Clearly there's a great deal to discuss." said Dudley, finally, the sound seeming to bring him to his senses.

"Yes, that would be a fine idea." Said Minerva

Dudley turned to go back into the kitchen, muttering to himself. He pulled his phone out of his pocket again, pressed a few buttons "Love? Will you stop and pick up some take away?" he turned back to the wizards, "Indian all right with you?"

The three wizards all nodded. This was going rather oddly, even given the circumstances. Dudley left the room.

Harry took a deep breath, glanced at Ginny, who gave him an encouraging nod, "He asked us to dinner. That's a good sign, right?" she whispered.