Second Chances [The Dudley Story]

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"Vault 687. The lamp please."

It's happening! Finally, my golden opportunity!

Vernon didn't want him to go, but Petunia did. He declared he wanted to go as well, so Vernon had no choice but to accept it. Then a few months later, two weeks before September, Hagrid arrived at 4 Privet Drive.

From there, everything felt like a dream.

Entering Diagon Alley, seeing all the familiar shops and attires, and then finally entering the bank. It was grand and magical, ethereal to his eyes. It felt like a dream, and at that point, he was almost sure this was his second life.

Clack! Clack!

The goblin opened Harry's vault gate and stepped aside.

"You're a rich man, Harry!" Dudley almost shouted. Seeing that many gold coins face to face was a totally different experience. The mountain of coins was taller than Harry and reached his own height.

"T-This…" Harry dumbfoundedly stared at the pile of gold. "Mum… It's Mum's?"

"And your dad," Hagrid said.

"It's a lot," Harry muttered. But it was now clear why he didn't have to pay a penny for his mum's treatment. "H-How much should I take?"

"Give me a loan!" Dudley shamelessly requested. It had already been three years and each time he saw a money-making opportunity slip away, he felt anxious and angered. He wanted to start as quickly as possible. "I'll invest it!"

Harry scratched his face and shrugged. Having been with Dudley for so long, he was at least confident in his intelligence. "How much?"

"A million! I mean, a million pounds."

"Sure."

That easy? Seriously? We're fifteen, buddy. Dudley felt emotional for his little brother. He had given up on magic and Hogwarts until two months ago. I'll help you double this then.

Quickly after that, Harry grabbed a fist full of coins and shoved them into his bag. As for Dudley's loan, they needed him to make an account at the bank first. He giddily accepted, although it wasn't free.

Following that, Dudley confirmed his growing suspicion. He saw Hagrid grab a 'stone-sized' wrapped pouch from another vault.

So it's just the age that's moved up?

"Better not mention this to anyone, you two."

Dudley quickly zipped his mouth and followed the giant man out. From there, he shopped for supplies and got himself an owl because it was the most convenient method of communication. Then, he got himself a wand.

Of course, he first watched the entire show of Harry getting his 'destined' wand.

"Ah, indeed! How exquisite! The wand you hold is one of the last fine Redwood wands remaining in this establishment. Crafted with the spine of a White River Monster, a magical creature from the magical depths of the White River in Arkansas. It will serve you admirably, Mr. Dursley—many covet Redwood for its illustrious reputation for bringing good fortune. But do heed this: Redwood wands possess a curious affinity for those already blessed with the knack for resilience, for turning misfortune to triumph. I foresee remarkable adventures in your future, Mr. Dursley!"

Dudley looked at the wand in his hand. It was red with a nice solid grip. It felt a little springy even. Adventures? Fuck that, I just want happy times. Maybe date a few pretty witches, and get rich.

Following the wand, they bought a few more things and then regrouped with Hagrid to have some lunch. He appreciated that the half-giant didn't dislike him this time, and didn't give him a pig's tale. Well, he wasn't fat like before either.

After listening to Hagrid give them a quick overview of the wizarding world, the two boys returned home to 4 Privet Drive.

It didn't matter if the air inside the house was depressing because of Vernon. The two boys were excited to start their magical journey.

They marked their calendars, crossing off each day.

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When September 1st arrived, Dudley found himself often thinking of only two words that entire day.

Holy shit!

He crossed the wall on the platform and appeared in front of the steaming Hogwarts Express.

Holy shit!

He saw Hermione for the first time as she looked for the toad. Thanks to the age situation, she looked fantastically charming. Her bushy hair made her seem all the more cute. Of course, there was also Ron who sat with them.

If anything, he liked the red-haired boy for being so simple and easy to approach. While Harry was famous and a half-blood, Dudley knew he was just a muggle-born like Hermione. He expected the Slytherins to target him just for being related to the Boy Who Lived.

Holy shit!

He rowed the boat and stared at the majestic castle in the distance with all its lit windows. Finally, the dream had become a reality. Initially just hopeful of being involved with the magical world through Harry, but now he was a part of it too.

Holy shit!

Like a fool, he stared at the massive Great Hall. Its magical ceiling, the rows of tables. The end of the hall with the teachers. Majestic, ancient, and full of magic—He felt too excited.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Oh shit!

He finally cursed something different as Hermione got sorted into Gryffindor right before his eyes. It woke him up from the excited stupor. This was it, the moment of truth.

Which house should I go to?

Slytherin was not an option. Going to Gryffindor meant he'd always be on the winning team. But, being close to Harry would also make him the prime target for later Death Eaters. He'd be involved in all the battles that Harry would participate in. The Stone, the Chamber—he'd be dragged into everything.

Feeling the weight of that choice, he looked around, recognizing a few faces.

Let's take a seat first.

"Harry Potter."

Instantly, all the roars and claps died down. Whispers and chatter ensued and even the teachers sat up straight.

Oh, he's bloody famous. Literal magnet for all eyes around. Dudley watched his brother get sent to Gryffindor. Following that, a few more names went by.

"Dudley Dursley."

Here it comes. Being taller than almost every student in his year, he stood out already. Not Slytherin.

Not Slytherin? The talking hat spoke to him. I can see why. Ah, I see something in there, something profound. Strong, focused, and brave—Yes, I kno–"

Is it Gryffindor? Dudley asked directly.

What is this? I feel hesitation. Ah—patience! It's not Ravenclaw either for refusing the lion is no sign of wit.

Dudley frowned. Did you just call me dumb? I have a master's degree in fi—

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

The hat was instantly taken from him. Dudley heard a lot of clapping from the right side as he stood up, scratching his head.

Hufflepuff? Who the fuck goes to Hufflepuff? He absentmindedly walked over to the Hufflepuff table. He shook hands with the seniors and took a seat. Only then did he look beside him and see the faces of Susan Bones and Hannah Abbot. He liked what he saw. I guess I'm a Hufflepuff then.

But then he leaned forward and looked at the other Hufflepuffs. After swiping a few faces, he finally saw the bright, handsome face of the guy.

There's my vampire.

Ting! Ting!

"Your attention, please!"

He looked back at the teachers, seeing Dumbledore stand up.

"Let the feast–begin!"

Woosh!

With a snap, a massive feast appeared on the table. So much food that he felt his stomach churn. But he dared not go crazy, and grabbed his well-calculated balanced meal with high protein and fibers, as low carbs as possible.

He took a bite of the chicken and it melted in his mouth.

Ah, I can get used to this.

####

Snape didn't hate him or like him. That was more than pleasing.

He loved flying on brooms.

Hufflepuff wasn't as bad as he expected. The common room had a lot of greenery and had a cozy air to it. With the school kitchen nearby, the appetizing scent of food often seeped into the common room. Sadly, it motivated him to exercise more so he could eat more.

The troll incident happened as expected. Using common sense, he got Hermione out of the bathroom before the Troll even entered. They still saw the creature enter the bathroom, but they were safely away. He was no battle junkie and had no interest in experiencing broken bones.

Thanks to that, he received study notes from Hermione for every subject. It was a life and time saver for him. In addition, the notes helped him get closer to Susan Bones and Hannah Abbot, the two girls he was interested in.

He tried out for Quidditch too and made it to the reserves at the very end of the list. He just got to watch Harry win that year. But overall, he loved his life at Hogwarts, in Hufflepuff's basement. Other than Draco's rare snarky remarks, he found no issue.

So, he focused on plotting his greedy business—the get-rich plan. Thanks to Harry, he finally had the funds to take the first step.

Before he knew it, the 1st year came to an end with predictable events unfolding. Harry caught Professor Quirrell and killed him. It shook his brother a bit, but he was there to cheer him up at the Hospital Wing.

By the time they returned home, Harry was as good as ever. And what a summer it was. The two brothers never felt that free in their life. They went outside regularly, met with Weasleys, even visited Hermione's parents' clinic, and made trips to Gringotts for business.

As Dudley explained his plan to Harry, the Boy-Who-Lived started to show some greed too and asked if he could invest too. Dudley agreed merrily with a small 'fee'.

Just like that, the 2nd year arrived.

Dudley created a magical whistle that let out rooster crows for himself. He didn't know if he had the plot armor, so he dared not take the snake lightly. However, he did come face to face with the Basilisk once and timely shut his eyes before using the whistle.

Surprisingly, he was awarded fifty points for his discovery. He then sold similar whistles for a Galleon each. Business was booming until he saw the first victim. From there, he handed free whistles to whoever wanted them.

The 2nd Year turned out great for him as he became friends with students of all houses thanks to his whistle. Even Slytherins requested them. Clearly, their hatred for his blood was not higher than their desire to live. He charged them money, however, as they could afford it. But not the pretty girls, of course.

As the 2nd year neared its end, Harry discovered the Chamber of Secrets, defeated the Basilisk, and saved Ginny from Voldemort. When the year-end dinner took place, not only Harry, but Dudley also received more points from Dumbledore. For his creation of the whistle that saved Hermione's life, and also his discovery and confirmation that a Basilisk was the likely culprit, even though no one believed him at the time.

Still, Gryffindor won. Hufflepuff came second that year.

But Dudley didn't care, more busy playing around with his girlfriend. They had just started dating during Christmas when they kissed for the first time and also got chased by the damn Basilisk. If not for his whistle, they'd have been petrified.

Although they hadn't crossed that 'boundary' yet, they were very much into each other.

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