Winky took over from her life mate, "I can assure you both that if we had another option we would gladly take it. We thought about them transporting Dobby and I back with them as we were sure they would have been given a direct order prohibiting witches and wizards, but apparently they covered all other magical beings as well as anything to harm the Dumbledores."
Hermione's head shot up from where it was resting on Harry's shoulder, "were you contemplating sending them on a suicide mission?"
"Hermione how is that any different than what their going to do? Both would have jumped at the chance of taking those bastards with them." Said Dobby
"This is anything but an ideal solution, its just the only one we've got at the moment," whispered an emotional Winky
Harry thought for a few minutes before making a suggestion, 'if this is going to be done we need to publicise it, I realise this increases the danger of the spell becoming public knowledge but everyone knows the unforgivables and the penalty for their use. We need to make it public knowledge that using this spell has even more severe consequences."
Hermione wanted to protest but part of her recognised that setting the elves free meant they had to be able to make their own decisions, and with no other plan available she had nothing to offer them except her support.
It was decided to offer them the great hall at whatever time they chose but no one was satisfied with the situation and would be working on a solution right up until the last moment.
Harry was drawn out of his thoughts by the awakening Dudley.
"Bloody hell, what happened? Where am I?"
"Dudley, I used to wonder whether you were an arsehole or just really stupid. Today I got my answer, you're a stupid arsehole!"
"Oh yeah, believe her and don't even ask for my side of the story"
"Shut up Dudley, there are some clean clothes there for you, get changed then we'll go to my house for lunch. You have a meeting with our private secretary this afternoon and your behaviour had better be improved from this morning or you may not see dinner."
"Oh Potter, you're really scaring me now!" suddenly Dudley was beyond scared, he was absolutely terrified as a sword pressed on his Adam's apple. As if that wasn't bad enough, he didn't recognise the person holding the blade at his throat. Harry's eyes seemed on fire while controlling anger was pushing out enough radiant power to make the hairs on Dudley's arms stand up.
"Listen very closely Dudley while I tell you a true story. On the first of September 1991 I met Ron Weasley and Hermione on the train to Hogwarts. Ron became our best friend, for three years we did everything together and were as close as brothers. He didn't like the fact that Hermione and I were together and tried to harm my wife, he's buried on the grounds of this castle. I killed the closest thing to a brother I had without hesitation while you have spent our whole lives trying to make my existence hell on earth – think about it Dud."
Dudley was visibly shaking with fear.
"I am not the boy you knew, while Big D and his gang were terrorising ten-year-olds I was fighting terrorists. I defeated a dark lord, tangled with a dragon and faced more dark creatures than you could possibly imagine. I have killed to protect my family and will do so again. You have to believe me when I say I would kill you if those stunts were pulled on my family."
Dudley believed him, he had never been so sure of anything in his life.
When Harry vanished the sword Dudley rushed to the toilet, and not just to get changed. When he came out Harry put his hand on Dudley's shoulder, "remember Dudley best behaviour," the cousins disappeared from Hogwarts.
...
They arrived in the entrance hall and Harry's comment of 'stay there' was totally redundant, Dudley couldn't have moved if he wanted to. He was looking through the glass walls at every teenage boys fantasy, sand, sea, surf and a collection of some the finest babes Dudley had ever seen outside the pages of a magazine. To make it even better they were walking towards where he was standing.
Harry had gone to fetch Hermione from her research, missing meals was not an option for her now and sometimes you just need to take a break. When he saw that Dudley hadn't moved a muscle, he decided to push his cousin even more, "this is our house and you could have been staying here except I can't trust you. While you're at the meeting with Miss Black I'll try and find alternative accommodation for you."
Dudley felt something break inside him, how did Harry get all this? Surely it should have come to him, as he was better than Harry. He didn't want to go anywhere else, this was paradise and Dudley Dursley deserved nothing less. He was just about to start complaining to Harry when he remembered those eyes behind the sword; he quietly followed the Potters to lunch.
For the first time in his life Dudley couldn't remember what, or even if he ate. His eyes were everywhere, trying to assimilate his surroundings, but always seemed to end up at the beauty that was Pansy Parkinson. That was until Harry hit him with a wandless stinging hex for staring, his comment of 'killer insects around here' was not lost on him.
Emma was taking the 'First Kiss' for her maiden voyage around the island after lunch and everyone was looking forward to it. Hermione had to call off due to research and Harry was heading to Gringotts, but Dudley was devastated to discover that he couldn't go. He had a meeting then Harry would be taking him somewhere else to stay, sometimes life just sucked!
Dudley was led into a room where Narcissa was waiting behind a desk with papers in front of her. "Good afternoon Mister Dursley, please take a seat. This is a meeting that would normally take place between myself and a member of house Potter to try and determine what they want to do with their future. If you have any questions please ask away."
.....
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