Book One: Dudley's Memories

Chapter Three

"Daddy?" the door slammed, and a high pitched, slightly tremulous girl's voice called from the front hallway.

"In the sitting room." called Dudley, standing up again to meet the girl halfway.

"I blew another one up!" the girl flew into the room and threw herself at Dudley, "I don't know what happened!" she didn't seem to notice the other adults in the room as she was quite distraught, "It-it just..." her words were lost in a flood of tears.

Dudley caught the child in his arms, "All right, love. All right. Your mobile again?"

They couldn't see much of the girl as she buried her head against his chest. She was tiny compared to Dudley, with dark hair bound up in a pony tail and a blue school uniform.

"Same as last time." said a man's voice, resignedly, from the hallway, "She said she was worried because I was running late. When she tried to call me, the thing started smoking. She dropped it before she burned herself this time." there was some noise of putting things away in the hallway, "Let me just put the dinner in the kitchen"

Dudley patted the girl's hair, looking relieved, "Well, I'm glad you're all right, popkin." he said to her.

Slowly, Harry's stomach was unclenching. Dudley was looking after Eleanor the way he, Harry, would console Lily. Dudley wasn't recoiling from the girl in horror as Harry had been still half afraid he would.

Ginny pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and handed it over to Dudley, who took it gratefully, "This would be Eleanor, I take it?" she said kindly.

The child started, finally taking in the wizards' presence.

Dudley grinned, "Yes. This is our young lady."

Eleanor turned around slowly, taking the handkerchief from her father, "Hello." she said very quietly, not meeting their eyes. Clearly embarrassed by their witnessing of her tears, she twisted the handkerchief around in her hands and looked at her feet.

Dudley sighed, "That keeps happening. Anytime she's upset and she tries to use the thing. And the laptops...Not so bad with the desktops for some reason."

"What keeps happening, Mr. Dursley?" asked Minerva.

"Please, Professor." Dudley said with a shudder, "Mr. Dursley was my father. In answer to your question, her phone keeps blowing up. Especially, if she tries to make a call when she's upset." with dawning comprehension he looked at the three wizards, "That's why you lot use owls, isn't it?"

"I'm given to understand the the more delicate muggle instruments don't do well with magic." replied Minerva.

"Huh." Dudley shook his head. "Phillip?" he called to the man in the kitchen, "Need any help?"

"No, no. Shall we eat now? I can soon put the plates on the table. There's just six of us?" The man called.

"This is a conversation that should include both parents Mr...ahh..Dudley." Minerva said kindly, "My information says that Eleanor lives with both her parents."

"I do have both my parents here." Eleanor said sharply, looking up, defiantly. She put her hand in Dudley's, "Phillip Barton is my papa and this is my daddy."

Harry stared at Dudley as the penny dropped. He could well imagine Vernon and Petunia's reeaction to this.

Dudley faced them with a set jaw, clearly apprehensive of how his family would be viewed by Harry and his lot.

"Oh, I beg your pardon." said Minerva, smoothly, "I should have realized." She smiled reassuringly at Dudley and Eleanor. Dudley for his part relaxed a little.