Dudley, the Star-Crossed Lover
by Melinda
Chapter One
Nervously, I walked down the stairs. Mum and Dad were sitting on the sofa, watching the news.
“What is it, Diddykins?” Mum asked, gazing at me adoringly.
“Uh...” I began. I knew what I wanted to say, but I also knew how they would react. Why hadn’t I planned this out in my room? I mentally slapped myself.
“Hurry up, they’re talking about drills,” Dad interrupted.
“Your son is more important than drills,” chided Mum and looked at me questioningly. “What is it, dear? Are you sick?”
“No. I’m fine. I just thought that we should go visit Harry.”
“What?” She looked shocked.
“Why would we want to see that rotten kid again? We just got rid of him!” Dad exclaimed angrily. He was now staring at me instead of the television screen.
“But he forgot something,” I ad-libbed.
“So,” Dad said, turning back to the report on drill sales.
“Does it really matter, dear?” Mum asked. “I mean, it’s so sweet of you to think of returning whatever he left here, but I don’t think we need to…” She trailed off.
“It’s not that I want to see him again,” I explained. “It’s just I can’t stand having his things in the house. You know, things he uses to do you-know-what.”
This method worked. “Of course, darling! We’ll send whatever it is to him tomorrow.”
No. That wouldn’t work. Send it? I had to go to the Weasleys’ house! And since he hadn’t actually left anything, what would there be to send?
“No,” I protested. “We have to drive there. I don’t think it would be safe to send such a thing in the mail.”
“But I don’t think we should have to go to all the trouble -- ”
“Mu-u-m!” I howled. Making a scene always worked. Why hadn’t I thought of it before? “I don’t want it in the house! We have to drive to the Weasleys tomorrow!”
“All right, all right, dear. We’ll go tomorrow.”
I smiled and walked away.
*** *** ***
The next morning, I was awoken at 6:30 by the beeping of my alarm clock. I quickly shut it off and got out of bed.
I had to impress her. What should I wear? After debating a long time, I decided looking neat would be the best. I chose a sweater and pants.
Once dressed, I sat down on my bed and brainstormed how to pull off this trick. I was smarter than everyone thought; acting dumb is a good way to get what you want. I suppose no one else was clever enough to realize this.
I decided on wrapping a book in brown paper and stuffing it into a bag. By the time Harry realized what it was, I would hopefully have time to talk to her and leave.
Sigh… Talk to her. I fell backwards on my bed and closed my eyes. I began daydreaming.
“Hello, Ginny.”
“Oh, hello. Are you Harry’s cousin?”
“Yes, I’m Dudley. You must have heard about me from him. Don’t worry; I’m not as wonderful as he must have told you.” Wink.
Ginny collapses into hysterics. No -- giggles shyly. No – giggles sweetly, and looking up at me, fluttering her eyelashes. “Oh, Dudley – You are so funny!”
I opened my eyes and kicked my ankle. Get into reality mode, Dudley. That will not happen. She’s a witch. You’re a Muggle. She’s a witch. A witch. A witch.
What would Dad think? Oh he wouldn’t know. But still – witches are evil. Magic is evil. I must not think about it. I must not talk about. I must not associate with it. Oh screw Dad. She’s the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen. She’s so dainty and polite and sweet-looking.
I must have her.