####
The following three days were depressing. The air inside the home was of melancholy and helplessness. Vernon was not a perfect man to many but to Petunia he was perfect. His demise marked a major change in Petunia's life. With no parents to rely on, Petunia had to live in that house all alone with Dudley at school.
For the first time, she realized that money couldn't buy happiness. Thanks to her son, she didn't need to go out and work. But that didn't make her merry.
Thankfully, Lily was a master potioneer and had just the things to calm Petunia down and make her think logically. To her, Vernon's death was from a natural cause and that was all she needed to know.
"Please take care of yourself, Dudley." Petunia hugged him in the driveway before he left for the station. "You're all I have left."
He hugged her back, holding her there for a moment.
"Don't worry, Mum. I'll be safe."
Tears welled up in her eyes as she watched Dudley sit in the car. She waved and continued to do so until the car vanished in the distance.
This time, she felt scared of entering her house.
Scared of the solitude.
For some reason, she wondered if this was what Harry felt like all those years.
That mere thought crushed her in regrets.
####
I don't like this.
Dudley felt all eyes on him as he entered the Great Hall for dinner and the sorting ceremony. All the murmurs and faint giggles directed at him made him feel nauseous. But he still strode in tall and took a seat between Susan and Hannah, his usual spot.
Even the teachers. He noticed the eyes from the teachers' table.
"Dudley."
Yet, he felt calm. Susan on his left and Hannah on his right, both girls gripped his hand under the table, their thighs pressed into him as if trying to make him feel warm and cozy.
"Oh, come on, don't sulk like that. I'm not sad—just a bit cross, really." Dudley gave their hand a gentle squeeze. "Besides, this year's going to be exciting."
"How?" Susan asked.
"You'll know soon."
Finally, the Sorting ceremony started. One after another the names went by and eventually, Dudley heard Sophia Hughes. His ears perked up, and he glanced at the young brown-haired girl, excited and nervous at the same time.
"Ravenclaw!" The Sorting hat shouted.
Better than Slytherin and Gryffindor.
Dudley waved at the girl as she passed by his table. She waved back, gleeful almost.
"Who is she?" Hannah inquired.
"My CFO's daughter. She's a muggle-born and her father was a little worried. Well, Ravenclaw is good." He stopped worrying and looked forward to Dumbledore's announcement. But then dinner appeared on the table and everyone began eating.
When's he going to announce it?
He began devouring food too: meat, bread, beans, and puddings. Slowly, as the last of crumbs vanished from the plates, Dumbledore arose and stepped to the podium.
Here it comes.
"Now that we are fed and watered, I must ask once more for your attention while I give out a few notices." Dumbledore started with the basic briefing. Such as Filch's ever-growing list of forbidden objects that now stood at 437. Then Dumbledore warned about the Forest before coming back to the main event.
"It is also my painful duty to inform you that the inter-house Quidditch Cup will not take place this year. This is due to an event that will be starting in October and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy, but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."
Murmurs rose across the hall. Students who knew what it was shouted in excitement and explained it to their friends. But it was not needed as Dumbledore continued to explain.
"You knew about this?" Susan questioned, squeezing Dudley's thighs now instead.
Dudley raised his hands in surrender. "I may or may not have known."
Hannah squeezed his thigh too. "Are you going to participate?"
"What? No way! I've already got a great big target on me as it is. I've no interest in making it any bigger. Besides, let Dumbledore talk. It's not like I could join in even if I wanted to."
And just then, Dumbledore finished explaining. Simple to say that not many were happy with only the 7th year allowed to participate in the tournament.
"See." Dudley shrugged and finished his pudding.
"The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be staying with us for the greater part of this year. I know that you will all extend every courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us… rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop Chop!"
Dumbledore finished speaking and dismissed all the students.
Dudley got up with a yawn and walked with Susan and Hannah. He really wanted to take them to his dorm room and cuddle with them. He was in no mood for sexual gratification, and for now, he just wanted warm hugs.
"Hah, look at him go, shameless as always."
That particular snarky voice caught his attention just as he exited the Great Hall and entered the hallway. There on the side stood Draco with his usual gang, all of them sneering at Dudley.
This bastard. Dudley wondered if Draco knew about what Lucius did.
"I was there when it happened," Draco drawled, his laughter sharp and cruel, loud. "He couldn't even run—too fat, wasn't he? Hah! Fell flat on his face, and guess what? The great lump croaked from a heart attack! The only one to die, and not from anything impressive—just his own weight! Utterly pathetic, haha!"
He knows something. Dudley had ensured the Daily Prophet didn't write anything about a heart attack. Only the death was supposed to be reported. So, Draco knowing the reason meant Lucius told him about it.
Everyone knew who Draco was pointing at, so all eyes fell on Dudley.
Just bankrupting you is too kind. I'll ruin your name and legacy too. Dudley's hatred for Malfoys increased significantly.
"What?!" Dudley shouted. "Hang on—why do I hear a dog barking? You know what happens to a barking dog, Susan? They get smacked in the face!"
"You!" Draco sneered and rushed towards Dudley, standing an arm's length away. "Are you threatening me, Dursley?"
"Wait, I was talking about…" Dudley, acting shocked, looked left and right. He then leaned closer and whispered so only Draco and his friends could hear him. "Draco, since when did you become a dog? Wait, whose fault is that? Did your father shag a bitch or did your mother fu—"
Draco snapped and bared his wand. "Dare say another word!"
"Woah!" Dudley raised his hands high. "To threaten another student during such an important event. That's bold, Draco. Proper terrifying, really. I'm so scared."
Dudley said that last part in the most feminine voice possible.
Hearing all the giggling voices around, Draco ashamedly stepped back and put his wand away. His lips twitched but he said nothing for a moment.
"Careful, mudblood. He's back."
He's lost.
Dudley instantly lost any semblance of restraint towards Draco from that comment. If the guy was brave enough to support Voldemort's return like that, it was too late already.
"I'm tired. Let's head to bed."
Finally, he took his girls back to the Hufflepuff Common Room. Begrudgingly, he went to the boy's dorm and dropped onto his bed.
It's going to be a chaotic year. He reckoned.
Fake Moody's eye was a little too focused, he felt. Not just on Harry but on him too.
I gotta start preparing.
####
Potions, Charms, and Arithmancy—Dudley looked forward to the first day of the 4th year. He started the day with a lot of expectations. He freshened up and had a little make-out session with his cute and lovely Hannah in an isolated corner to start the day.
Fantastic breakfast since the school was preparing to host the guests. Everything was spotless and was still being cleaned. It felt like the school regained its soul.
Of course, that only lasted half the day as he received a summon from the Headmaster's office. Once he arrived there, he found none other than Lucius Malfoy standing inside, proud, regally dressed, cane in hand, chin high with a smug smile on his face.
The smile was annoying and infuriating as it was directed at Dudley the whole time.
"Ah, my apologies, Mr. Dursley," Dumbledore began with a gentle smile. "It seems Mr. Malfoy here thought it quite necessary to discuss the idea of the bank you proposed."
Dudley looked at the blond man.
That smirk.
"Mr. Dursley," Lucius drawled, his voice laced with condescension, as one might address a particularly dim house-elf. "A most regrettable turn of events. Such a pity—no one could save your father in time."
He's mocking me. That smile… is mocking me.
"I quite agree. I'm still a bit taken aback by everything that's happened. Well, it's my lunch hour, so how may I help you? I understand you're looking to invest in the bank. Your interest is greatly appreciated, Mr. Malfoy." Dudley steered the conversation.
Lucius nodded and took out a letter of intent. "I intend to deposit one million Galleons in your bank. Provided your stated interest rates remain intact, I foresee no objections. However, I require this assurance in writing—signed and sealed."
Wait? Dudley furrowed, a touch of confusion flickering across his face, though he quickly masked it. So, he wants to put the money in my bank? Not taking a share in the bank itself?
That was utterly and absolutely dumb. Lucius was giving him 50 million pounds worth of gold galleons. All for measly interest returns.
He has no darn clue how muggle banks work. Ah, it's going to be much easier to deal with the Malfoys it seems.
"Signed and sealed? Of course, that's my guarantee, Mr. Malfoy."
"Should you fail to meet the agreed-upon interest rate, I expect you to pay a penalty—a sum double the amount I have so graciously invested," Lucius added, a condition never before discussed.
Ah, he wants to bankrupt me instead? Let me guess, he's going to keep adding money to my Bank until it becomes too big for interest returns? Dudley didn't know if he should laugh or laugh even louder. The man, for some reason, thought the money added to the Bank would remain untouched.
"Hmm…" He acted, a false struggle on his face. "Double? I'm confident."
"Then we should make the deal," Lucius suggested.
"Alright then," Dudley said, raising his hand. As he had anticipated, Lucius took it with his gloved hand, shaking it. "We'll exchange the transfer and sign the agreement tomorrow. Professor Dumbledore can act as the witness if he's agreeable."
Lucius nodded. "That is adequate."
With that, Lucius bid Dumbledore his farewell and started walking towards the door. But the man couldn't help himself, pausing and muttering.
"Once again, how dreadful it was, Mr. Dursley. I trust your father has found the peace he so deserves in the afterlife."
Dudley merely nodded, taking a deep breath.
Go ahead, show me your cards, Lucius. I'll save mine for later.
Finally, the proud Malfoy left.
"Mr. Dursley," Dumbledore said softly from his chair, peering over the rims of his glasses with a knowing gaze. "I trust you know what you're doing."
"I know, Professor. I know exactly what I'm doing."
Dudley also left the Headmaster's office. But instead of returning to the Great Hall, he left the castle and went to the owlery. There, he wrote a quick letter and sent it flying.
Its contents were simple.
Find me Muggle-born wizards, struggling to make ends meet, especially from impoverished countries like Myanmar and Cambodia. Nations outshined by large neighbors—I have an offer that they can't refuse.
______________________
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