Vendetta

1 - DRACO MEETS DUDLEY

Draco Lucius Malfoy Apparated to Privet Drive in Little Whinging, Surrey, where his nemesis, Harry James Potter, had lived (albeit unwillingly) for three months out of every year since 1991, when he had begun attending the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He had once overheard Harry telling his friends the abuse he took day in and day out, year in and year out, emotional and physical, from his mother's sister and her family, not to mention all they denied him, both emotionally and materially, simply because he was a member of the wizarding world.

Being denied material things wasn't so bad; he could buy them himself if necessary. It was the years of emotional and physical abuse that was getting to him. If this kept up much longer, he was likely to need psychiatric counseling to deal with all the post-traumatic stress he had endured because of it up to this point. His friends at Hogwarts, his schoolwork there which would likely lead to a career as an Auror, and adopted family the Weasleys were the only things that kept him anywhere near sane.

It sounded to Draco like the Dursleys were the kind of people he should get to know ... and all the better if he could manage to do so without their realiSing that he himself was a wizard, since he had also heard that they hated anything and everything associated with magic, wizards and witches, and whenever they could, preferred to deny Harry was any relation to them whatsoever--and tell whoever asked that he attended "St. Brutus's Academy for Incurably Criminal Boys" rather than Hogwarts.

Draco knew that Harry certainly had a good time making fun of it when with his friends, especially since it was a mere smokescreen to cover up his true wizarding background and nature. It wouldn't be easy to hide the fact that he was also a wizard; he would simply have to do the best he could. He even wore Muggle clothing, but carefully concealed his wand on his person so he could lay hands on it at a moment's notice without arousing suspicion until it was too late.

As he was coming up the walk toward Number Four, he saw a very heavy-set youth about his own age come out the door. Draco knew he would have to pretend to be lost in order to throw him off the track. "Excuse me," he called out.

"Yeah? What the bloody hell do you want?" Dudley Dursley almost spat. "I've got places to go and things to do."

"I'm new to the area and am looking for the Dursley residence. I understand it is on this street," Draco returned smoothly. Butter wouldn't have melted in his mouth, but even under the best of circumstances, which these certainly wouldn't be--especially not once Draco and Dudley paired up--nothing good could come of this.

Particularly not for Ginny Weasley, Harry Potter or any others closely associated with him. In any case, Dudley had neither the brains nor the perceptiveness to see through his inquisitor's deception. Even if he had, though, it was unlikely to have changed his decision to assist Draco in his quest.

"You found it. I'm Dudley Dursley, son of the house. Why are you looking for us?"

"Let's just say that we have ... mutual acquaintances. May I assume you've heard of ... Harry Potter?"

This time Dudley did spit, his pudgy face twisted into a sneer. "He's my cousin--at least technically. Why? How do you know him? You aren't a wizard, are you?" He eyed Draco suspiciously.

In spite of himself Draco was impressed. All the same, he mistook Dudley's craftiness for intelligence and acted accordingly. "No, by no means," Draco lied smoothly. "I've simply ... heard of him. I understand he's ... quite famous."

"Infamous should be the word," Dudley shot back. "He's nothing but a freeloading goody-goody and a smart-mouthed, arrogant bastard, imposing on my mum and dad's generosity for the last sixteen years. I've lost count how many times my dad's had to take a strap to him for mouthing off, either to my parents or to me. He has no business even being under our roof. Why and how he ever managed to end up on our doorstep, I'll never know."

"Rumour has it that his parents were killed when he was a baby and that your mother was the only living relative of his mother. Where would you expect him to go if your parents hadn't taken him in, however unwillingly?"

"Either an orphanage, another Muggle family ... or better yet, the streets. He's made a fool of me, belittled me in front of my friends for as long as I can remember."

Draco could certainly identify with that, but dared not admit his true nature or identity just yet. But from the sound of it, Dudley and his parents had no more love for Harry than he himself did--and for basically the same reasons. But how could they effectively get revenge on Potter once and for all? Although the scenario was certainly enjoyable, just hurting Potter physically didn't give sufficient satisfaction.

For that it was necessary to hurt someone Harry was emotionally close to, like the Mudblood Granger or the red-headed wimp Weasley ... and most recently, the wimp's sister Ginny, who was now Potter's main squeeze as of this past May and the winning of the Quidditch Cup by Gryffindor House. Draco had heard that Ginny had run up to Harry and thrown herself into his arms, obviously excited about the victory; it was then that Potter had pulled her close and kissed her passionately in front of everyone in Gryffindor House. Once they finally parted, he had grabbed her hand and they headed out through the Gryffindor portrait hole, no doubt on their way to a private rendezvous.

He had never seen them personally, but had heard reports from others in Slytherin House that the couple were turning up more and more often in odd places, most of the time snogging each other senseless. Draco couldn't imagine anyone wanting to snog Potter--a skinny, mop-haired, green-eyed refugee from a concentration camp--at least as far as he was concerned, anyway ... but there was no accounting for taste, since he had also heard that Ginny had had a crush on him for years.

Whatever Potter's other shortcomings, though, even Draco had to admit he had good taste in women ... first Cho Chang, the beautiful Ravenclaw Seeker, then the slender, petite, brown-eyed, and equally beautiful redhead Ginny Weasley, who was equally at home on a Quidditch broom either as a Chaser or Seeker, depending on the circumstances of the game in question.

Had she and Potter "gone all the way" together yet? Considering how often he had heard of them snogging, it wouldn't surprise him if they had. After all, redheads were reported to be very hot-blooded, and Potter would have had to have been barking mad not to have claimed her for himself long ago. Draco knew he certainly would have in the same situation. Potter would also have had to have been literally as blind as the proverbial bat not to see what a dish she had become! Even now, just thinking of Ginny's lips, legs, breasts and backside was enough to make Draco's whanger stand at attention.

But what if Potter hadn't taken Ginny yet? What if she was still ... Merlin forbid ... a virgin? What if he and Dudley joined forces and went after her themselves? He would have to check both Ginny and Harry's schedules so he could pinpoint the best time to take her, a time when both Potter and his other friends were sure to be elsewhere, then contact Dudley to meet him and go from there. It might also be a good idea to make sure that neither the Mudblood nor the wimp was in any position to interfere with their plans.

Unfortunately, he wasn't thinking that any others were likely (or able) to interfere. If he had, he and Dudley might have gotten away with it and perhaps even blamed their actions on someone else, if not Potter himself. (As it would turn out, Harry and company would take steps to see that they were both punished to the full extent of both wizarding and Muggle law. Neither were Draco nor Dudley aware that Harry had his own vault at Gringotts, the fortune left to him by his parents large enough to rival even that of the Malfoys--and that would work to his advantage, in more ways than one.)

At the moment, however, Draco was too busy plotting how to claim that luscious little redhead ... and once Dudley heard about Ginny, he would surely want to have his innings with her himself, the perfect revenge on his despised cousin. Of course, since Ginny was a talented witch herself, it was likely to be necessary to catch her by surprise so she would be unable to hex them--perhaps even render her unconscious, then tie her down or something and have their way with her.

"Were you aware that your cousin has a ... steady girlfriend?" Draco asked carefully.

"No, I wasn't," Dudley replied, unable to help wondering what kind of girl Harry's alleged girlfriend had to be, and in spite of himself was curious enough to ask for details concerning her. "What is she like?"

"Slender, petite and beautiful. Almost sixteen years old, waist-length red-gold hair, brown eyes, turned-up nose, full lips and well-endowed in all the right places."

At seventeen Dudley hadn't even had one date, much less a steady girlfriend, mainly due to his weight, still roughly that of a young killer whale despite the diet he had been on for the better part of the last six months, but also because of his nasty disposition and his hoodlum gang--in fact, he and they were the terror of the Little Whinging neighbourhood where they (and Harry) lived.

Just the same, he had had his own bouts with teenage hormones just as Harry had, and the description the intriguing stranger before him was giving of Harry's dishy girlfriend made them kick in big-time. He still couldn't imagine how the bloke before him could know so much about her, but that was immaterial, at least at the moment. She would not only be the answer to all his fantasies, but he would be able to flaunt what he had done in Harry's face and enjoy his reaction, believing that there was nothing he could do to avenge her.

Unluckily for him, Dudley had forgotten that his erstwhile cousin would also soon turn seventeen and thus be considered of age in the wizarding world, able to use magic legally whenever he wanted--and once he had heard what Draco and Dudley had done to the love of his life, what he was likely to do would make the Sectumsempra curse look like a blessing.

Probably the only thing that would even begin to stop him from doing either that or one of the "unforgivable" curses would be his friends' telling him that neither Draco nor Dudley was worth a life sentence in Azkaban. Even at that, Harry would likely retort that even cooling his heels in Azkaban would almost be worth it in order to have them out of his hair forever.

For the time being, however, Draco and Dudley went to the nearest pub and put their heads together, beginning to make their nefarious plans and map out their strategy.

* * * * *

In order that Dudley not forget what their main objective was, Draco made a photo montage of Ginny for him to keep constantly before him, with emphasis on her more obvious charms--lips, legs, breasts and backside. He assured Dudley that Harry had much the same type of picture montage of her in his bedroom, albeit very personally autographed.

In fact, he'd even told him that she had signed on the back of Harry's copy the fol-lowing suggestive lines:

Harry ...

Hope you like the pictures, luv--and that you decide in favour of what we discussed the other night. I'd really love to be with you like that and I hope you want to be with me the same way. After all, we've been together for a month; I really think it's time.

Yours forever,

Ginny

P.S. I love you.

Of course, neither had any way of knowing whether or not Harry really had a cheesecake picture montage of Ginny in his room, much less that they were autographed in the same manner--but it wouldn't surprise Draco if he did and they were. What was important was that Dudley thought so, that Ginny was constantly kept before him. If he wanted her, he would have to do what Draco wanted, whatever it happened to be ... and whatever his objections to doing so.

"Why do I have to listen to you?" Dudley groused.

"Because I'm the one with the knowledge you need. I suggest you keep that in mind," Draco retorted threateningly. "Otherwise you'll never touch her or even see her. Get me?"

Dudley nodded sullenly but didn't argue.

Draco smiled charmingly, but at the same time, even Dudley saw evil in it. "As long as we understand each other. Now, I've found out that Ginny is supposed to be alone at 3 p.m. today. I cannot tell you where she'll be; you'll simply have to take my word for it. Also, when the time comes, I'll have to take you there, because you could not get there on your own. Be ready at the first street that intersects with yours at two-thirty and make sure your parents can't see you. If they ask where you're going, just tell them you're going to meet some friends. Got that?"

"Yeah, yeah," Dudley grumbled, the only thing keeping him from chucking the whole mess being the thought of the gorgeous little redhead naked and spread out like a sumptuous banquet before him. Even if he had to let this Draco person go first, it would be worth waiting for to finally lose his virginity as his friends had lost theirs.

He only wished that Harry could be there when it happened, if only to be forced to watch, not to mention tied down at a strategic spot where he could see everything, yet be unable to do anything to stop them.

For that matter, he even considered suggesting it to Draco. It would be the perfect way to drive Harry crazy, especially if they stripped him too and watched him to see how aroused he got at what they did. When he saw Draco again three days later, he told him his idea, and even as impressed as Draco was at Dudley's fiendishness, had to veto it.

"But why?" Dudley demanded.

"Because to do that, we would need help--and the more people involved in this, the greater the likelihood that we'll be found out ... and I really don't think you want people finding out, especially not your parents--or law enforcement people. Understand me?"

Dudley nodded reluctantly, still miffed that Draco had vetoed his idea, attempting to convince him one more time. "I could get some of my friends to help. They don't like Harry any more than I do. A couple of them would take him by surprise, then we could--"

Draco emphatically shook his head. "Also, should you try to implicate me in this, I'll sue you for everything you've got, for defamation of character at the very least. My family has a lot of money, whereas yours doesn't. You couldn't possibly win against us."

Dudley gave him a suspicious look. "Just who are you, anyway?"

"Suffice it to say that if you do as I tell you, we'll get along just fine. Go against me and I'll destroy you--and what's more, enjoy doing it."

One look into Draco's cold blue eyes and Dudley knew he was serious. Despite his reservations about the whole matter, he knew he was in too deep to turn back now. Draco then directed him to take hold of his arm; Dudley gave him a threatening look.

"It's only for a few seconds. I'm taking you to where Ginny is. Now let's get a move on or we'll miss her--not to mention our chance to take her without witnesses."

Dudley glared at his companion but did as instructed; he soon felt himself being squeezed like a tube of toothpaste before the two found themselves on the Hogwarts grounds not far from the Quidditch pitch. A practice game was scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on this day, and Ginny, as the best of the three Chasers on the Gryffindor team, needed to be there.

Apparition tests were also being conducted on this particular day for all the sixth-years who turned seventeen on or by a given day who had signed up for Apparition lessons and/or practice. It was for this reason that the normal inability to Apparate onto or off the Hogwarts grounds had temporarily been suspended. Even though he had only recently turned seventeen--within the last two weeks, in fact--Draco had already managed to get an Apparition License via a combination of studying ahead and his father's money and influence. As far as he knew, neither Potter nor either of his friends had managed that yet.

"Where the eff are we? Where's Ginny? You said she'd be here."

"Patience. You'll see her soon."

Almost before the words were out of his mouth, the object of their search appeared. Ginny wore black slacks and a matching jumper underneath her red and gold Quidditch robes. Draco and Dudley hid behind the nearest wall; shortly after she passed them, Draco retrieved his wand, pointed it at her and thought, "Sleep, my beauty. Sleep!"

As she collapsed to the ground, unconscious, Dudley gaped at him.

"What the bloody hell did you do to her?"

"Later. Now let's get her tied up." Draco then said, "Incarcerous," softly, specifying ropes as a restraint. Soon Ginny was tied hand and foot; Draco then murmured "Inanimatus Conjurus," picturing a cloth blindfold, which appeared in his hand.

He stuffed it in his pocket, then they picked her up--or rather, Draco did--but even as they gazed upon her sleeping face as Draco carried her, her head resting on his shoulder, her long, red-gold hair, thick, dark eyelashes, the dusting of freckles across her tiny, slightly upturned nose and her full lips (not to mention her small but perfect breasts), Dudley felt his groin tighten almost unbearably. Seeing her close up, he could definitely understand why Harry had fallen in love with her. She was the loveliest girl he had ever seen. It would seem an eternity until he could possess her, but at least he was one step closer to doing so.

"Where are we going now?" Dudley asked.

"You'll see," Draco returned enigmatically; they then Disapparated out of the Hogwarts courtyard, destination Malfoy Manor ... or more specifically, Draco's wing, which contained his bedroom, the quarters of his personal house-elf, and the room where--if all went according to plan--Ginny Weasley would be turned from an unsullied maiden into a licentious whore.

To make sure things would be even easier for him, he went over to his dresser and got a small bottle from it--a bottle which contained Amortentia, a strong love potion. The effects only lasted a few hours, but that should be enough for his purposes. He put some between her slack lips, then stroked her throat to make sure she swallowed it. Draco was sure it would happen, mainly because he intended to add the finishing touch: planting an illusion in her mind that he (and Dudley) were Harry.

She would see his face, hear his voice, feel his hands, lips and body, not his or Dudley's. All that would be seen by her mind's eye, if nothing else, and because of her love for him, she would accept virtually anything he dished out. But to maintain the illusion, she would need to be blindfolded. He would only use the gag as a last resort. Once they had stripped her and restrained her again, Draco noted the time: 4 p.m.

By now the others had surely missed her and would be wondering where she was. If only for that reason, Draco couldn't help wishing he could have known what everyone was thinking right now--especially Harry.