Book One: Dudley's Memories

Chapter Five

"Yes, of course." Hermione pulled herself together after giving Harry a good hard stare, "Where's the child?"

"Hiding under all that." Dudley pointed to the closet.

She knelt down, putting her briefcase beside her, but keeping wand in hand. The end of her wand lit, "Hello?"

A little whimper came from the back of the closet.

"Can I come in?" asked Hermione gently. Being smaller than either Harry or Dudley, she was able to wriggle into the spaces between the stacked up rubbish.

Dudley and Harry waited patiently as she had a whispered conversation with the child.

Harry caught words between the child's sobs, "David brings Mummy's medicine...he was...Mummy said...don't know what...sorry...sorry."

He moved a little further away, wondering whether it would be better to muffliato himself. This was not a conversation he wanted to eavesdrop on. Dudley on the other hand had crouched down, taken a small notebook out of his pocket and was giving every sign of writing down everything he could hear.

"Harry?" called Hermione, "The boyfriend's still here. Tim doesn't want to come out until he's gone. And...the boyfriend...well, you better use Revelio."

"Did you take care of the muggles outside?" asked Harry.

"Yes. They won't come in. I told them that it would be better if we handled it."

Harry raised his wand, "Hominem revelio"

On the kitchen counter, the scuttling cockroach glowed a vivid yellow, "Found him," Harry snorted, with a bitter laugh. What had the man tried to do to the child? He picked up one of the filthy glasses and trapped the insect underneath it

Hermione crawled out of the closet on her elbows. She and Dudley came over and stared at the disgusting thing.

"That's clever." remarked Dudley with a grim smile, "The little boy did that? I thought that sort of thing was only taught at your school?"

Hermione replied, "The child's magic did it. That's why you see so few cases of violent rape or child molestation in the Wizarding world. The magical core reacts to it more strongly than less intimate forms of violence."

"Convenient, that." Dudley said satisfied.

"So, what do you want me to do with him?" Harry asked Hermione.

"Move the glass." she pointed her wand, "Finite."

In less than thirty seconds, the cockroach had exploded into a man sitting on the counter.

Dudley jumped back, startled and swearing.

The man on the counter stared at his hands for a second before leaping down at Hermione, lunging for her neck.

Her wand came up, but she had no time to get off a hex before Harry cried, " Protego!". The man was thrown back, across the room. Landing with a crash against the kitchen cupboard. The whole time he was screaming, "I WAS A COCKROACH! THE LITTLE FREAK TURNED ME INTO A COCKROACH. I'LL FUCKING KILL HIM WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON HIM!"

He frantically tried to regain his feet, but Dudley threw himself onto the man, "No, you don't." he said, wrestling the man back to the ground.

The room was full as a group of muggle police officers came charging in, apparently hearing the raised voice. Hastily, Hermione and Harry stowed their wands.

"Shit, are we going to have to obliviate the lot of them?" Harry hissed, watching as five officers and Dudley wrestled with the man.

Hermione smirked evily, "Not this time."