The Letter

Dudley Dursley hung his head out the second story window of the house he and his wife owned in a very respectable part of London. Dudley was looking for something. He'd done something he'd sworn he would never do. It had been 15 years since he had had to have any contact with that freak's world, his cousin's world. Now he was actively looking for a way to contact it. Dudley peered into the night sky and shook his head. It was really a good thing his parents were no longer living in England, he thought, as a small dark spot in the black night sky came closer and appeared to become larger. To have to contact his cousin; Dudley's mother would disown him if she knew.

A beautiful snowy white owl landed on the windowsill and Dudley looked at it very carefully. Was that the same owl? Could it really be that freak's owl after all this time? How long did those bloody creatures live anyway? What was its name again? Hedges? Wiggins? No, Hedwig, that was it; an odd name for an odd pet that belonged to an odd boy.

"Thank you for coming," Dudley self-consciously addressed the bird. "Are you really Hedwig?"

The bird turned its head and looked directly into Dudley's eyes before it blinked.

"I need you to take a letter to my cousin. It is rather, ummm, important that he gets this right away. I'm sorry I don't have any treats. I'll have one for you when you return with the answer. Is that all right?"

The bird extended its leg to have the note tied to it, and with a quiet hoot, flew back into the night.

Later that night in a quiet corner of Scotland, Hedwig landed on the windowsill of her friend's window. They had been together too long to consider the man sitting at his desk to be anything else but a friend.

"Hi there Hed," said the dark haired man as he looked up from the paper he was reading. "Where have you been? I saw you take off from the owlery earlier."

Hedwig extended her leg in answer.

"That's muggle paper, Hed. Where in the world did you go?"

Harry Potter untied the note from his friend's leg. After all, they had been together too long to consider her anything else. He sat down at his desk before opening the letter.

"Dear Harry," it began.

"After all these years I find myself in need of contacting you. I will not start out with the niceties of "how are you", but will get right down to business.

It seems that your oddities have made it into my family. My daughter, Pricilla, has just received a letter from your school. Yes, I said your school. I have never seen her do anything out of the ordinary and I am rather surprised that she has received this letter. Therefore, your freaky world has come crashing into mine again. I fear that my other two children - Dudley Jr., age 9, and Constance, age 7 - will also receive letters like the one their older sister recently has.

Harry paused and shook his head. Even after all this time, Dudley was still Dudley. Harry continued to read, wondering exactly what his cousin really wanted.

I must request that you, your wife-Mum said you married some girl about the same time I married- and your children - if you have any- please come to our house for dinner on the 28th of this month at 6pm. Please do not use the fireplace; the door is much more acceptable.

Since Cilla will be attending your school, I thought it would be nice if she did not go there scared and knowing no one - like I am sure you did. After all, Mum and Dad were not exactly - understanding. I am going to try to accept your world for my children's sake. I realize that you are very busy and that we, of course, were never very close. Please consider this a peace offering in the name of family.

In addition, will it be necessary for the children to address you as Headmaster while at our house?

I will be awaiting your answer via owl.

Your cousin

Dudley.

Harry shook his head and sighed. Well, Dudley was trying. Harry would give him that. Pulling parchment and quill from his desk, Harry penned off a quick note to his cousin.

Dudley,

I was very surprised to hear from you. Of course, Hermione and I would be thrilled to have dinner with you and your family on the 28th. Should we bring anything? If it is no problem, I am sure that young Sirius and Robyn will be excited to meet their cousins.

Until the 28th, yours truly,

Harry.

As Harry put down his quill, Hedwig extended her leg. "Here you go girl," said Harry, tying the note to her. "Have a good flight."

Harry watched as the dark form quickly faded into the night sky. Shaking his head, Harry headed back to his desk. Hogwarts had withstood much in its time but a Dursley here at Hogwarts just might be too much for those old walls.