Death at Hogwarts - A Harry Potter fanfiction

Chapter Nine

“Dudley! Think happy thoughts!” I called back to him. He simply stared at the Dementors in horror as Vernon gave a half snort, half laugh, despite his terror.

“Why? What's he going to do – fly?”

“Dudley just do it! Think of the happiest thing in your life then say these words. Expecto Patronum!”

I could feel Dudley trying to think of a happy memory and then suddenly -

“E-Expecto Patronum.” he managed to gasp out. A thin, silvery haze appeared in front of us and pushed the Dementors back a little.

“Stronger, Dudley! The memory needs to be the happiest one you have!”

He tried again, and this time the mist was stronger, and the Dementors stopped.

“Go away! They are not yours to claim!” I shouted, and at last, the Dementors turned and left. Vernon and Petunia stared at Dudley in horror.

“D-Dudders did magic. . .” Vernon whimpered.

"It's not his, don't worry. The magic within him belongs to Harry.”

“What?! Well he can just come and take it back then!” Vernon said, red in the face again. I sighed. Clearly, it didn't take much to aggravate Vernon Dursley.

“No,” I said. “I'll take him to Hogwarts.”

“You'll do no such thing! That place is for freaks!”

“And right now he IS a freak!” I roared. Vernon immediately shrank back, terrified and gave a little whimper.

“Dudley will come to Hogwarts with me because I need to transfer Harry's magic back into him, and if it's not in a place with magic around, Harry's magic will escape by itself.” I explained.

“Do it.” Petunia spoke up suddenly.

“W-what?! Petunia, you can't -”

“Vernon, if that. . .thing stays inside him much longer, he might become one of Them.”

Vernon recoiled in horror.

“Take him! Get that thing out of him!” he yelled at me. I calmly walked up to Dudley and took his arm, then whisked us both off to Hogwarts, appearing in front of Hermione, Harry and Ron, who were now awake.

“D-Dudley?!” said a shocked Harry. “What are you -”

“He was attacked by Dementors along with your Aunt and Uncle. Harry, Dudley can SEE Dementors.”

Harry's mouth dropped open in shock.

“I. . .I did magic, I think.” Dudley mumbled, sinking into a chair.

“Harry, when the two of you were attacked by Dementors last year, some of your magic was absorbed by the Dementor kissing Dudley. When you pushed it away with your spell, the magic was expelled and it flew into the nearest person.”

Harry nodded in understanding.

“Dudley.”

“Yes. We need to take the magic from him and put it into you again.”

“How? Is that even possible?” Hermione asked me.

“For me, yes. Both of you stand up and face one another.”

They did so, Dudley looking apprehensive, Harry looking a little worried.

“Now, Dudley, I want you to use that spell again.”

Dudley muttered the spell, and, instead of a silvery haze, a glowing cloud appeared in front of him. Everyone gasped.

“There's your magic, Harry. Call it back to you. Call it with your whole being. That magic was a part of you and it will want to go back.”

Harry closed his eyes and the cloud immediately began drifting towards him, almost lazily at first, then it suddenly sped up and flew into him, merging with the magic already within him. He gasped and his eyes flew open as he felt the merging finish.

“Is it done?” Dudley asked in a small voice, refusing to look at Harry.

“Yes.” I replied.

“Can I go home then, please?”

Harry looked up in shock at hearing his brutish cousin being so polite.

“Alright.” I agreed with a nod.

“Before I go. . .” Dudley looked up and met Harry's eyes. “Thanks. For saving me, I mean. And no matter what Dad says, Harry – I don't think you're a waste of space. I never have.”

Harry stared in shock as his cousin extended a large hand towards him. Harry shook it, looking a little shellshocked.

“Thanks, Dudley.” he said, smiling.

At that, I took Dudley home to his concerned parents, who were incredibly relieved to hear that he was 'normal' again. Dudley gave me a warm, genuine smile and thanked me as I vanished back to Hogwarts, to where Ron was going on about Dudley's astonishing change of heart.

“All those years, Harry!” he kept saying. “All those years and now he finally goes decent on you! Bloody hell, mate!”

“Yeah, I know.” Harry said, sat on the sofa with him, shaking his head in disbelief.

“It just goes to show, you never really know a person.” Hermione said, staring into the fire.

“Anyway, what was that all about, Dean?” Ron suddenly demanded, turning to me. “How come you could Apparate? You're not supposed to be able to do that inside Hogwarts.”

By way of reply, I dropped my disguise and Ron screamed and Harry gave a surprised yell. Once they had both calmed down and started staring at me, Ron recovered enough to ask a question.

“What the bloody hell?!”

“This is Death.” Hermione said, indicating me.

“Death?!” Ron shrieked, staring at my skeletal appearance.

“Yes.” I said, staring right back at him, then shifting back into Dean.

“What are you doing here?” Harry asked.

“I can't tell you right now, but I'm not here to hurt anyone.”

They both nodded in understanding and I allowed myself a small sigh of relief. All I could hope now was that no one else found out. Six people was six people too many.

A few days later, Ron broke Hermione's heart.