Harry and Dudley Start Hogwarts

Halloween

Halloween dawned a freah, crisp, day, full of excitment. Durning breakfast, 5 backets of sweets were delivered to Harry, a bag for himself, Dudley, Neville, Ron and Hermione. Each basket contained two chocolate frogs, some Bertie Botts every flavour beans, liquorice wands and sugar quills. Dudley ran over to Neville and Ron to give them theirs. Lily sent a box a ginger cookies for Snape.

Lessons were normal, and at lunch, the three Ravenclaws went down to the potions lab to see Professor Snape. They knocked on the door and entered.

"Hi, sir." Harry beamed, knowing the man well, "Mum sent you these." he explained, handing over the box.

"Thanks you, are you three doing well?"

"Yes, sir. Hogwarts is great! I'm loving it here!"

"That's good, how are lessons going?"

"Relitively easily! We like working through our textbooks before lessons so we know roughly what to do."

"Your teachers all seem pleased with your progress."

After a few more minutes of discussion, the trio headed back upstairs to get more food.

*********

Dinner was very unhealthy that night, although Harry and Dudley were both rather subdued. 

"What's up?" Hermione asked.

"My Dad, and Dudley's parents died this day, 10 or so years ago." Harry replied, pushing pumpkin pie around his plate.

"Let's go, we can ask the house elves for some food later, if we get hungry. You ned some quiet time." Hermione muttered, quietly. The trio got up and left, muttering to eachother. They were halfway to the tower when they heard heavy footseps. A foul stench reached their nostrils which made them gag, repulsed by the power of he smell.

A troll started heading towards them, breaking various suits of armour as it passed them.

Hermione screamed, then blushed.

"Sectumsempra!" Harry and Dudley yelled together, sending the dark curses directly at the troll, one to the head, one to the chest. The troll keeled over, dead.

Professor Flitwick turned up, flanked by Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagal.

"What happened?" McGonagal asked, pale.

"The troll came up to us, professor, and we used sectumsempra on it. I know it's a dark curse, but we thought it ought to stop a troll!" Harry explained, looking at his shoes.

"Why were you not at the feast?" Professor Flitwick asked.

"We weren't hungry, it being the anniversary of our parents deaths and all..." Dudley answered.

"Very well, are you hurt?"

"No, sir. Just shaken." Hermione intoned.

"Okay, the three of you may return to your dormitory. I will  escort you. The rest of your house is already there." Dumbledore said, calmly.

"Yes, professor."

"Oh yes, and 50 points to Ravenclaw, for neutralising a threat to the castles security."

"Thank you, sir!"

"Each."

The three children were buzzing as they reached the dormitory, where more food was laid out. students were nibbling contentedly. Both boys picked up a smallish pumpkin pastry and nibbled half heartedly. They headed to a quieter area of the room and sat next to eachother. Harry pulled out his wand and started muttering spells that he knew to make it quieter. As an afterthought, he cast a warming charm as well. They talked for just over three hours, then went up to bed. Harry and Dudley started whispering, but then fell asleep.

******

Back home, Lily, Remus and Sirius hugged eachother, crying quietly, thinking about James, wishing he had known his boys. In the early hours of the morning, they fell asleep on the sofa.