What a Witch Needs

Hi everyone! Thanks again for all your responses. I’m a happy writer! I don’t know why I decided to bring Dudley Dursley into the story except for perhaps two things. First I wanted to show how serious things were getting and second – I just love the whole fish out of water thing. A muggle of Dudley’s caliber seemed funny to place in the wizarding world. We’ll see where this leads.

Hope you enjoyed this next installment.

This chapter was beta’d by Narcissa Black and gardengirlgarden. Thanks to you both!

Disclaimer: I can claim no ownership of the characters or places used in this fiction.



Family Ties

Dudley was led to the entrance of the Three Broomsticks but hesitated to enter. Warrington and Pucey, however, pushed him from behind and he had no choice but to go in. He looked around the room with distaste, thinking that this place was even worse than the Leaky Cauldron. More freaks crowded around all the tables and they were now staring directly at him. The two wizards behind him pushed him forward until he was standing next to a couple sitting at a table.

They both looked up at Dudley in surprise and then a sneer fell over the blonde boy’s face.

“Do you mind telling me why my personal time with my girlfriend is being interrupted?” Draco glared. He looked at Pucey and Warrington next to Dudley. “This better be good.”

“This muggle here says he’s Lord Potter’s cousin,” Pucey said with distaste.

Hermione’s eyes opened wide as she looked at the big boy closely. “Dudley Dursley?” she said.

Dudley looked at her and said, “How do you know me?”

“I’ve been close to Harry for a long time. I’ve heard about you and I’ve seen you at the train station picking Harry up,” she answered. “What are you doing here?”

Warrington and Pucey backed away slightly, hoping that Lord Potter wouldn’t be angry at them for treating his cousin the way they did. They tried to put on a more friendly face.

“We found him wandering around outside,” Warrington answered. “We thought he might be lost so we gave him a hand.” Dudley turned his head and glared at Warrington in disbelief. Warrington grinned maliciously at him.

Draco looked Dudley over, remembering the pictures of the boy on the mantle of the Dursley home. He also knew that Harry did not care much for his cousin, having endured a childhood of torture from the big bully.

“Hermione asked you a question,” Draco sneered. “What are you doing here?”

Dudley was about to open his mouth when the front door of the pub flew open and Bill Weasley came stomping in. He spotted Dudley and strode towards him saying, “There you are! Why did you leave like that? I told you that you had to stay with me the whole time.”

“Bill!” Hermione exclaimed. “What’s going on? Why is Dudley here?”

“Oh, hello Hermione,” Bill said upon seeing her. “I was bringing Harry’s cousin to see him and he took off on his own as soon as we arrived. I don’t know why he would attempt such a thing,” Bill glared at Dudley.

“Freaks,” Dudley mumbled under his breath.

“What was that, muggle?” Draco asked, pointedly.

Dudley glanced around at everyone surrounding him and he knew he was outnumbered. He shrugged and glowered at the floor.

“Is Harry here with you?” Bill asked.

Hermione shook her head. “No, he’s at headquarters dealing with army business,” she answered. She turned her gaze to Dudley and said, “I must say that I’m quite surprised to find you here, Dudley. I was under the impression that you and your family wanted nothing to do with the wizarding world.”

Dudley just looked at her distrustfully.

“His school, Smeltings, was attacked by Death Eaters,” Bill answered for him. “Apparently, they were looking for him but ended up killing everybody except Dudley. He was lucky enough to escape.”

Hermione gasped and her face filled with horror and pity. “Oh, how terrible!” she said. “They killed everyone? The whole school?”

Bill nodded, “Yes, the Ministry confirmed it just a short while ago. Dudley fears that his home was unsafe for him to return there.”

“Oh, Dudley,” Hermione said in sympathy. “I’m so sorry about your school and your… friends there. Oh, how terrible.” Hermione’s eyes watered and Draco put his arm about her, drawing her against his arm.

“Wasn’t that muggle house protected?” Draco asked. “Harry said that it had strong protection wards on it and that he was safe there.”

“The Ministry is checking the Dursley home right now,” Bill said. “I should be hearing from them at any moment. I’m heading off to headquarters to find Harry. Could you keep Dursley here while I’m gone? I don’t want him wandering around Hogsmeade. Not everyone can be trusted.”

“Let me go with you,” Dudley whined.

“I can travel quicker without you,” Bill said. He apparated instantly and Dudley gasped in shock at the sudden disappearance.

“It’s all right, Dudley,” Hermione said. “It’s quite normal for wizards to do that.”

Dudley looked at her as if she had lost her mind.

“Sit, Dursley,” Draco ordered. Draco raised his finger and motioned for service. “Bring something to eat and drink for our guest,” Draco told the barkeep.

Dudley stood there by the table, looking offended at being ordered to sit like a dog. Then he felt Warrington’s hands on his shoulders shoving him down into a chair. “You heard him,” Warrington said. “Sit, muggle.”

Dudley glared at Warrington and then looked around at all the faces staring at him. THEY were looking at HIM like he was the freak! “Hmph!” Dudley huffed, thinking that they all needed to look in the mirror.

Food and drink were set down in front of him and Dudley looked at it with distaste, refusing to touch any of it. Who knows what disgusting ingredients they put in their food, Dudley thought. Could be bat guts and toad crap for all he knew.

“Where’s Harry?” Dudley demanded.

“Busy,” Draco answered. He wasn’t very happy that his date with Hermione had been interrupted but at the same time he was very curious at what Harry would think when he saw Dudley here. He studied the muggle carefully and could not see one bit of resemblance to his lover.

“Why did they call him Lord?” Dudley asked, glancing back at Warrington and Pucey sitting on chairs directly behind him.

“Because that’s what he is,” Draco answered, picking at the fake jewels on his goblet, bored. He hoped Harry would get here soon and deal with this dumb muggle. It was not how he wanted to spend his day.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

“Bill!” Ron exclaimed as his brother apparated into the kitchen at headquarters.

“Hey, Ron,” Bill smiled. “I heard you’re one of the captains. Congratulations! You must be pretty damned good.”

Ron smiled and said, “Yeah, well, what can I say?”

“Not very modest, are you?” Bill laughed. “Where’s Harry? I’ve got some news for him.”

“Our meeting just ended,” Ron said. “He went off with Lucius Malfoy. I think he’s in the house somewhere.”

“Lucius Malfoy,” Bill marveled, shaking his head. “Now that’s a strange thing, isn’t it? I never thought we’d have the likes of him hanging about and aiding us. When I first heard, I thought it was some grand joke. It’s hard to believe he would leave Voldemort like that.”

“Yes, well, he pretty much ignores everyone except Harry,” Ron answered. “He’s still an arrogant prick.”

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

“Come, my Lord, I have something you may want to see,” Lucius said as he led Harry through the house and opened a hidden panel on the wall.

Harry looked at it in surprise. He knew he hadn’t explored all of Grimmauld Place, yet finding hidden stairways always intrigued him. He followed Lucius up the narrow stairs and watched as he opened a locked door at the end of it. Malfoy turned his head and grinned at Harry as if he had a big secret. “I think you’ll enjoy this surprise, my Lord,” Lucius teased.

The door opened and Lucius allowed Harry to pass by him and into the room. Harry looked about at what seemed to be a bedroom.

”Hello Harry,” a voice said.

Harry swung around and saw the portrait of a young man leaning against the wall. He looked carefully at it, trying to figure out who it was.

“Don’t you recognize me?” the portrait asked. “I suppose you knew me when I was much older than this.”

“Sirius?” Harry said, excitement beginning to quicken his heart. How he had longed to speak to his godfather once again!

Sirius smiled, “Smart boy, I knew you’d figure it out. How are you, Harry?”

Harry stepped towards the portrait and knelt down to get to eye level with Sirius. “I can’t believe this! I asked everyone if you had a portrait and no one could tell me a thing!” Harry said, his words rushing out in his excitement. Harry looked at Lucius standing by the door and said, “Leave us.”

Lucius bowed and closed the door, leaving Harry with his beloved godfather.

“I hear you’re top dog now, Harry,” Sirius smiled. “Lucius has been filling me in on current events.”

Harry shook his head, “Not quite. I haven’t defeated Voldemort yet. But I don’t want to talk about that. I want to know about you. Where… what happened in the Department of Mysteries that day? Gods, I’ve missed you!”

Sirius frowned, “I’m sorry, Harry. I had always planned to be a part of your life, help you and protect you if I could. Of course, I didn’t know this bit about you being a Dark Lord, but that wouldn’t have mattered to me. You were like the son that I never had.”

“And you were like the father that I never had,” Harry replied.

Sirius shook his head. “No, Harry. You had a father and I knew him well.”

“When you… fell through the veil, what happened?” Harry asked.

“My body ceased to be,” Sirius said. “It was quite painless. It was like going through a door to another room, only it wasn’t a room, it was the spirit dimension. Unfortunately, there was no door to return back the way I came. But, though I was very concerned for you, I also felt the most beautiful peace. I don’t think I had ever felt that good when I was alive. So don’t worry for me, I’m very content.”

“I felt so alone when you left,” Harry said softly.

“You’re never alone, Harry,” Sirius replied. “I know you can feel me and your parents with you whenever you think about us.”

“Do you see them there in the spirit dimension?” Harry asked. “Have you seen my parents?”

“Yes, they are here,” Sirius replied. “And they are so very proud of you.”

Harry’s face fell. “Even if I’m a Dark Lord? Are they proud of that?”

“Yes, Harry,” Sirius said, “because you are still you. You may have inherited the dark powers but you have also inherited the best of James and Lily Potter. Don’t ever forget that, Harry.”

Harry was still unconvinced. How could they be proud of him?

“Harry,” Sirius added. “You have been thrown into a role that you did not want, but there is no law that says you must act in the same manner as those before you have acted. Be yourself, be Harry Potter, the beloved son of Lily and James Potter, and do things the way you feel is right. You have that power, the power to change things to your liking. Bring them back together, Harry. Bring the dark and the light back together the way it was before Voldemort became glutted with power. In fact, I think you can make things even better than they were.”

“The dark wizards would never give up their dark magic,” Harry replied.

“No, but they will follow your rules,” Sirius said. “You have the ability to regulate the dark power. You are their Lord and they will obey you. I should know, I was raised in a dark family. The Dark Lord is their sovereign. Make the right rules and you can bring harmony to the wizarding world.”

“But first I have to get rid of Voldemort,” Harry sighed. “There’ll be no harmony until that happens.”

“You’re right, Harry,” Sirius agreed. “You must do it. I wish I could be there by your side fighting with you, but I hear that you’ve got plenty of help.” Sirius grinned knowingly at Harry.

“Yes, I suppose I do,” Harry said. “I just hope they all realize what they’re getting into.”

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Harry had stayed in that room talking with Sirius for quite awhile until a knock sounded at the door. “Enter,” Harry said.

Lucius came in and said, “Bill Weasley is waiting for you, my Lord. He says he has urgent business.”

Harry said his goodbyes to Sirius, promising to visit as much as possible and left with Lucius. Bill was waiting for him in a sitting room and stood up when he saw Harry approach.

“Harry!” Bill said. “I don’t know if you heard about Smeltings yet, but…”

“Smeltings?” Harry said in confusion. Wasn’t that the muggle school Dudley attended? Why would Bill bring that place up?

“Yeah, there was a Death Eater attack on the place,” Bill answered. “They were after your cousin.”

“Did they get him?” Harry asked. Harry never thought he would care if something bad happened to Dudley, but surprisingly he felt a knot of anxiety forming in his stomach at the news. Dudley might be a poor excuse for a cousin, but he was Harry’s poor excuse for a cousin.

“No,” Bill answered. “Dursley escaped, but they got everyone else. The whole school, Harry, it’s gone.”

Harry turned to face the wall, letting the news sink in. So this is Voldemort’s strategy, he thought. He’s going to attack our families. Bill’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

“He’s waiting for you in Hogsmeade,” Bill said.

Harry spun around. “What? Dudley’s in Hogsmeade? How the fuck did he get there?”

“Well, I took him there to find you,” Bill said. “He was too afraid to go home and he insisted on seeing you.”

“His home is perfectly safe,” Harry said. “You know that.”

Bill looked at Harry for a few moments and then said softly, “Not any more.”

Harry waited for Bill to go on.

“I didn’t want to say this in front of your cousin, but the Death Eaters attacked your uncle’s workplace, Grunnings, at the same time as the school,” Bill said. He looked down at the floor sadly and said, “Vernon Dursley is dead.”

Harry stared at Bill in silence for a few moments, shocked at the news. He didn’t know why he cared, but he did. It seemed that even a fucked up family was still family after all.

“And my aunt?” Harry asked.

“They dropped your uncle’s body from the sky onto the front lawn of the house,” Bill said. “When the aurors arrived, they found her in a closet with a gun in her mouth. They were able to stop her from killing herself but I’m afraid she’s no longer in her right mind. They took her to St. Mungo’s for now. We are trying to figure out what to do with Dudley Dursley, but in the meantime we thought that he should be granted his wish to see you. He’s got some tough news to bear.”

Harry gave him a small nod. “I’ll go now,” Harry said.

“You want to apparate with me? You can just hang on,” Bill offered.

Harry shook his head. “No, I feel like flying. Just… tell him I’ll be there soon.” Harry turned quickly and strode from the room. He knew it would take awhile to fly back to Scotland but he needed time to process all that had just happened. He needed to be alone.

He had flown to Headquarters with his captains that morning, so his broom was still waiting for him by the door. He cast a cloaking spell so he would not be seen by the muggles below and left without a word, ignoring the curious stares. ‘Let Bill fill them all in,’ Harry thought.

Ascending into the cold sky, Harry knew that not all the tears on his cheeks were from the cold wind hitting his face.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Dark had fallen in Hogsmeade as the dinner hour approached and still Dudley sat waiting for Harry. Bill had returned over an hour ago, reassuring Dudley that Harry would soon be there. Now they all sat in uncomfortable silence. Warrington and Pucey had left to return to the castle as well as many others who had got their fill of staring at the displaced muggle.

Now only Draco, Hermione and Bill sat with Dudley, waiting for Harry to appear. Draco and Hermione had gotten bored at trying to make small talk with the surly muggle and were now absorbed completely with each other.

Dudley watched with disdain as the couple leaned in close, embracing and whispering in each other’s ears. When they began kissing, Dudley rolled his eyes and turned his chair to face in a different direction. That is when his eyes caught a sudden movement in the dark outside of the window. Dudley’s back stiffened as he shook silently in fear. Why oh why did he ever come here?

A light flashed brightly outside for a moment, temporarily blinding Dudley as a man’s scream filled the night outside. Dudley threw himself on the floor and whimpered with his hands covering his head as his companions stood in surprise and headed for the door.

Their wands out, Bill, Draco and Hermione slowly opened the front door of the Three Broomsticks. The remaining patrons of the pub were standing behind them, craning their necks to see what had happened outside.

A fire was burning in the middle of the street and a cloaked figure stood over it, watching it burn. The smell of burning flesh filled the air and the cloaked figure turned his gaze towards the group standing in the doorway of the Three Broomsticks.

“McNair,” was all the figure said.

Hermione recognized Harry’s voice immediately and pushed past Bill and Draco to get to Harry. “Harry! What happened?” she asked. As she neared, she noticed that the fire was really a man’s burning body.

“I spotted him from above,” Harry answered. “He was heading to the Three Broomsticks.”

“Death Eaters? In Hogsmeade?” Hermione gasped. “But there are aurors about…”

“Not tonight there aren’t,” Harry replied. “Voldemort is keeping them occupied today. They are attacking all over.”

Hermione ran into his arms and held him tight. “Oh Harry,” she sobbed,

“We need to get you back to school,” Harry said. “Where’s Dudley?”

Draco cleared his throat to get Harry’s attention and inclined his head towards the pub entrance. Harry held Hermione’s hand and strode to the doorway. Everyone moved out of his way. Dudley had pressed himself against a wall, sitting on the floor and staring wide-eyed at Harry. Harry realized that his hood was up and that Dudley had no idea who he was.

Harry lowered his hood and said, “Dudley?”

After a few moments of stunned silence, recognition began to fill Dudley’s features and he whispered, “Harry?”

Everything broke down for Dudley Dursley in that moment. Despite the mask of loathing for the wizarding world that he had worn all day, his face crumpled in anguish and relief and he began to sob. “Harry, Harry…”

Harry turned towards the people behind him and said, “Can we be alone please?”

Draco put his arm about Hermione and said, “Sure, Harry. We’ll head back to the castle. Come and find us after you’re … done here.”

Harry nodded and waited until everyone left the pub. Even the barkeep retreated to his back room and shut the door.

Dudley had stood up, using the wall for support, and looked at Harry as he wept. Harry wondered if Bill had told Dudley the news. Harry never thought he would find himself doing what he did next, not in a million years. He walked over to his distraught cousin and embraced him. At first Dudley stiffened at the contact, but then the floodgates opened and Dudley sobbed in earnest as his arms flew about Harry, hugging him close.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Draco and Hermione had retired to the Slytherin common room, sitting before the fire and reading. Draco was reclining on a sofa and Hermione sat between his legs, leaning back against his chest as she read. Draco’s fingers softly caressed the side of her arm as he absorbed himself in his own book. Other Slytherins were lounging about as well, playing chess or doing homework.

The portrait door opened and Pansy Parkinson tried to quietly make her way to the dorm stairs unnoticed. Unfortunately, she was unsuccessful.

“There you are, Pansy,” Goyle called out.

Pansy stopped in her tracks, having almost made it to the stairs. She turned around and gave Goyle an irritated look. “I’ve got lots of homework to do, Gregory,” she said.

“You can do it later,” he replied. “Come here and put your pretty little mouth to work.”

Pansy sighed in defeat and headed towards him. Hermione, who had looked up from her book when Pansy first spoke, now realized what Goyle was demanding from Pansy. She could also tell that Pansy did not want to do it.

“No!” Hermione said. “Absolutely not!”

Draco stopped reading and looked at the situation with curiosity. Goyle swung his gaze to Hermione in surprise. Pansy stopped in her tracks, surprised at Hermione’s words.

Hermione stood up and said, “Pansy, you no longer have to do sexual favors for anyone unless it’s your choice to do them.”

“But...” Pansy said, “Lord Potter has to be the one to end my punishment.”

“The wrong was done to me, so I am the one who will decide when this ends and I say it ends now,” Hermione declared. “I had no idea that it would be like this for you. Where is Millicent? I wish to end hers as well.”

Pansy was shocked. Hermione, whom she had almost killed, was now showing her mercy? She didn’t know what to say so she pointed up the stairs to the girls’ dorm.

Hermione turned to an amused Draco and said, “I’m going to find Millicent. I’ll be back shortly. Tell all the boys that they can no longer demand things from those two.”

Draco grinned at her and said, “Of course, love, it will be as you wish.”

Hermione turned and walked up the stairs. Pansy looked about the room in satisfaction before she followed Hermione up the stairs.

“Which door is it?” Hermione asked.

“That one,” Pansy pointed.

Hermione opened the door to the dorm room and heard noises coming from behind the closed draperies of a bed. “Lick me, Millie,” a girl’s voice said.

Hermione strode quickly over to the bed and threw the draperies open. There on the bed lay Millicent completely nude on top of another Slytherin girl with whom Hermione was not familiar. Both girls looked at her in surprise.

“Stop!” Hermione said. “Millicent, you no longer have to do this. Your punishment is over.”

Pansy came up to Hermione’s side and took the drapery from her hand, closing it once more as she said, “No, you don’t understand. That’s Millicent’s girlfriend. Milli is a lesbian.”

Hermione stared dumbly at Pansy for a moment, realizing that she had just intruded on a private bout of mutual lovemaking. “Oh…” Hermione said, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She looked at the closed drapery and said, “I’m sorry I interrupted. Um… well… carry on.” She turned and walked out of the room.

Pansy grabbed her arm before she reached the stairs and said, “Thank you. This was extra hard on Milli. She doesn’t even like cocks and yet she was forced to suck on them.”

“I’m sorry, Pansy,” Hermione said. “I know you dislike me, but I hope we can at least call a truce between us.”

“I’m sorry, too,” Pansy said. “I realize I’ll never have Draco now. I should have just accepted that back then but I was too hurt.”

Hermione nodded, not knowing what else to say. She turned and went down the stairs looking for Draco in all directions but he was not around. “Where did he go?” she mused out loud.

Pansy came down behind her and said, “I think I might know. Come on.” She led the way as Hermione followed her down a back hall that ended in a set of stairs. It seemed dark at the bottom and she descended carefully behind Pansy.

When they reached the bottom, Hermione noticed that it wasn’t quite as dark further into the room. Candles were lit along all the walls and tables. There were large sofas placed in different areas of this large room and students were engaging in various pleasurable activities, from talking to cuddling to much more intimate acts.

“What is this place?” Hermione asked.

“We call it the downstairs room,” Pansy said. “There is only one rule here. Whatever happens in this room, stays in this room. No one can speak of what they did or saw. We come here to fool around or just watch others fool around.”

Hermione definitely knew McGonagall would never allow such a room to exist in Gryffindor.

They walked further into the room and Hermione saw Blaise Zabini sprawled on a sofa, his trousers unzipped and his shirt open as if he had just messed around with someone. On the other side of the sofa a girl was laying completely nude. Hermione could only see her lower half as Theodore Nott was standing in front of the sofa where the girl’s head was. It was obvious that the girl was sucking him off as her hand was wrapped around his backside and pulling him rhythmically towards her face.

“Oh… my,” Hermione said. How bold they all were! Blaise sat there watching them, sexily mussed up as if he had already had his turn. He turned his face towards Pansy and Hermione and smiled a lazy smile.

Hermione felt Pansy’s hand on her back as Pansy urged, “Go and watch if you want.”

Hermione carefully walked towards the side of the sofa and craned her head to see who the girl was.

“Cho?” she said in surprise.

Cho Chang pulled her mouth off Theodore and looked at Hermione hatefully. “What do you want?” she snapped.

Obviously Cho was still angry about Harry’s rejection. Had she turned into a slag in her despair? Hermione felt pity for Cho and yet she knew that the girl had made her own decisions. If this was what she wanted, then who was Hermione to say differently?

“Um… nothing… sorry,” Hermione said, backing away. She turned to find Pansy again but Pansy was no longer behind her. Looking around in every direction, trying to find Draco or Pansy, she began to feel a bit self conscious about being here as many faces were now turned towards her. It wasn’t just the fact that they were staring at her as she stood in the center of the room, it was the way they were looking at her, with lust.

It was then she felt a serpent on her thigh start to move. ‘Oh Gods, no,’ she thought, ‘please, not here. Not in front of all of them!’

She turned her head to find Draco, knowing that he was somewhere in the dark recesses of the room, controlling her tattoo to do his bidding.

OOOOOO

A/N I know I promised some Draco and Hermione love in this chapter, but when I was writing it I found that the Dudley and Harry business needed to be completed. So, we’ll see some sexy stuff next chapter as you can tell from my cliffy.

Also, I’ve decided to give you, my wonderful readers, an opinion of where Dudley should now live. So let me know if you can think where he should end up – it could be practical or not. If it strikes my fancy, I’ll run with it and make it work.

Please let me know your thoughts on this chapter!