Elemental Genesis

Chapter Thirteen: To Be A Man

The pile of weeds continued to grow larger as he worked. There was a lot more to go, as the yard had not been cared for in months. The job of maintaining the house had before fallen to Harry, but he wasn't here. Dudley wiped the sweat off his forehead, using the back of his hand. How come Harry wasn't all muscle with all this hard work? He mulled this thought over. Most likely it was because we didn't feed him enough.

It had been nine days since Harry vanished, six since the wizard arrived on their doorstep. Soon after he had told that Professor Snape or whoever all that he knew and left, at least ten more wizards showed up less than an hour later. Vernon had, of course, resisted. A blast of red light from the wand of a particularly scarred and disfigured man paralyzed him. That man and seven others left, but three remained behind. It was one of those remaining three that had terrified him the most.

That man looked like he was going to kill his father right there with his bare two hands. He wore red robes, unlike the others darned in blue. His face was probably very handsome at one point, but a lot seemed to have faded away. He gave the appearance of one who used to be carefree but had everything fall to pieces in one life- altering moment. Brilliant blue eyes that seemed to be haunted by shadow chilled when they came to rest upon him. Nevertheless, he gathered up his courage and dutifully did as requested. He took him up to Harry's room. Dudley hadn't been there because of his father. Vernon was still determined not to let anyone enter it.

It looked like something straight from a nightmare. He was disgusted by the state of it, as was the red robed wizard. One could easily tell what occurred in here. The floor was scuffed and in several places stained with a dark substance that had to be blood. The bed was thrown haphazardly against the wall, smashed. Harry's desk was in the same overall condition. After seeing the room for himself, he had no trouble believing his father's tale of Harry conjuring up a whirlwind.

The red wizard checked a loose portion of the floor. From underneath the boards, he pulled out several books, some stale cakes (So that's how he survived when they put me on that horrible diet.), and a long silvery cloak. He looked at the fabric sorrowfully for a long time before snapping back to the present. He then gathered all of Harry's remaining things and went downstairs. The wizards that had remained with his mother had evidently questioned her and collected his missing cousin's trunk. Without a word, they left. He learned later from his very shaken mother that the wizard in the red robes was none other than the infamous Sirius Black himself. No wonder he felt such fear when the convict was there. He had then felt sort of bad for his father, still in that man's company. But he quickly and firmly changed his mind. Vernon Dursley deserved everything he got. No one should treat another human being like he did to Harry.

They got the news later that Vernon had finally cracked. The wizards sent him to a mental institution: St. Claire's Mental Facilities. They assured them that he would be treated well there and no charges would be pressed. Apparently, they thought being insane was punishment enough. He and his mother visited him there. It wasn't a pretty sight. The large man was sitting on the floor in a corner, rocking back and forth. Vernon kept laughing and screaming to get away from the Blue Eyes. Dudley knew who he meant even if the doctors didn't. He felt that she was entitled to do what she did to his father. He himself was ashamed to be related to that wreck in the padded room.

He had new priorities to take care of now. The house needed to be maintained and they had to get back on track, without his father. Petunia had become a chef at Culinary Delights, the restaurant that belonged to the family of his new friend Alyce. She liked it there and was trying to get over what happened. Dudley's job was doing well and the company said that during the school year he should take architecture classes. They also invited him to work weekends and in the summer next year. He was happy about this because he truly loved the hard work that was his job. The inside of the house had already been cleaned and fixed. They had even redone Harry's room, though he could tell it was very difficult for his mother to do this. He had the feeling that they wouldn't be going in there for a while. The windows had been scoured of all dirt and the flowerbeds replanted. The grass was slowly, but surely, returning to green. The weeds, though, were the trouble. Dudley knew that no matter how many he pulled now, more would grow back.

It's sort of like the world in a way. There will always be weeds, no matter how many we pull out. The least I can do is make sure that there aren't too many. With this vehement thought, he pulled out one particularly tough weed from the ground with satisfaction.

<><><>

"Hey, Alyce. How are you?"

The girl smiled back at him. "I'm doing fine, nothing big. You've lost weight!"

"Yeah," he said, blushing in embarrassment and pride. "The running is helping a lot, as is my job. 10 pounds!"

"It really shows because you look great! You work in a construction company, right?"

"The work is fascinating! There's this huge high since I'm making a mark on the world with my own two hands! Do you know what? I get this major ego trip every time I pass the construction site! I can imagine what I'll be like when the building is done." He laughed jovially at this.

She joined in his amusement. "It's pretty cool! When it's done, I can say that a friend of mine built that building!"

They continued running along the smooth park path, chatting about their lives and such. In Alyce, Dudley found a great confidant: a willing and patient listener. Alyce at the moment was ecstatic that her parents bought her the roller blades that she had wanted. The restaurant was doing so well they got them for her as a treat.

"Thanks for giving my mother a job, by the way."

"As I said before, it was no problem! Your mum's an awesome cook! We never had so many customers before she started working for us."

Dudley was prevented from responding by two shouts of Alyce's name. One was a male's, the other belonging to a female. The owners of the voices were running briskly towards them. The boy was around his age with gangly long legs with dirty blond hair and brown eyes, seeming to have trouble keeping up his running pace. The girl was around his age and possessed short dark brown hair. Dark glasses shielded her eyes and she kept a tight hold on the leash of the golden retriever running ahead of her slightly. As soon as they caught up, the unknown boy collapsed to the cement. Dudley could see the wet signs of sweat in his red sweat suit. "God, I hate running," he panted.

The girl with the dark glasses chuckled. "He's fine, just out of shape. Hey Alice, who's your friend?" Dudley was shocked. This girl was obviously blind yet she knew he was there.

"Dudley, these are my best friends." Alyce pointed to the boy on the ground. "He's Jerald Maplethorpe."

He waved back at him, still sitting and gasping, "Just call me Jerry, everybody does."

Alyce continued, "And this is Camilla Weaver and her seeing-eye dog, Sammy. Guys, this is Dudley Dursley."

The dog barked once as a greeting while the blind girl put out her hand. He gladly took it. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Dudley. Most people just call me Cami. Call me Millie and you die."

Jerry picked himself up. "I haven't seen you around school, Dudley. Where have you been all this time? Did you just move here? I've lived here for four years and never saw hide nor hair of you before."

"No, I've lived here all my life. I just went to some stuck up private school before hand. This year I'm going to Stonewall because my father lost his job."

Cami was stunningly perceptive. "Grunnings?"

"Yes. How did you know?"

"My dad used to work there. Was your father's name Vernon Dursley? I think that was the name of the guy who always used to yell at my father."

"Unfortunately. Sorry if he caused your dad any trouble."

"It's alright. I bet you're nothing like your dad anyway. My dad is now with that new company, so it's no big deal. Where's your dad now?"

"Mental institution," replied Dudley shortly.

Jerry waved it off. "Who cares? We now have a new friend. It's good to have new friends."

Dudley bit his lip. "I'm not sure I'll be too well-liked at Stonewall."

Alyce asked, "Why on Earth would you think that?"

"I used to be a huge bully before."

Jerry said nonchalantly, "So? Now you're not and that's all that matters. Never hold grudges. C'mon guys! I've got my second wind!"

Cami slyly said, "Second? I wasn't aware that there was a first."

They all laughed, including Jerry. All four, plus one dog, jogged down the park lane, bonds of friendship forming and strengthening.

<><><>

"Well, well. Look who it is."

The group turned as one towards the voice that said this. Dudley froze. They were sitting on the playground equipment as if they owned it and he noticed that many of the children were keeping far away from them. He winced. He used to be just like them. It was his old gang. All of them were there: Piers Polkiss, Dennis Townsend, Malcolm Rockwell, and Gordon Armstrong. Dennis, who was obviously the new leader, continued to speak to them in that annoying high-pitched voice. Someone hasn't hit puberty yet.

"It's the terrific threesome. Oh, is the blind girl scared?" Dennis had caught Cami backing away slightly from his loud voice. "Can't you see?" He continued to taunt her while Sammy was growling and snarling. The four idiots had apparently not seen him.

Jerry jumped to Cami's defense. "Leave her alone! She's a lot smarter and a much better person than all four of you put together!"

Piers let a smirk show on his rat-like face. "Stay out of, nerd. Unless you want to get hurt."

"Do you really think I'm afraid of you, Polkiss? You're just a snobby rich-boy. A pansy."

"You little-"

Alyce stepped in. "Just because people fear you doesn't mean we are. You keep everyone from enjoying themselves by ruining everything in every place you're in! Those kids don't even dare come here to play anymore because you sit here and smoke cigarettes all day!"

Malcolm and Gordon, who Dudley remembered as being extremely dumb, just grunted and pummeled their hands into their fists in a threatening nature towards them.

This is different. Was I really that much of a jerk? Did I really hang around these idiots? They're nothing but lowlifes! Why was I with them?! He got hit with a huge pang of guilt here. I was like that. I used to be an idiotic piece of trash that caused nothing but trouble and unhappiness. I used to do this to other kids: threatening them and making fun of them. And I remember that Harry used to be like Alyce, Cami, and Jerry: always standing up against us. He remembered the Shadow Goddess's words to him. I vowed to both the Shadow Goddess and myself that I would be a decent human being now. I won't let this happen to other people ever again.

Dennis said, "We'll just have to teach you a lesson then for going against us. I don't think the odds are in your favor. I mean all you have is a goody-goody, a girl who can't see a single thing, a nerd, and a pathetic dog!"

Dudley stepped forward. "They also have me," he growled out. His three new friends grinned at him as he did this.

All four of them froze. The cigarette that Piers was smoking fell out of his open mouth. Dennis exclaimed, "Dursley! But you-you were-"

"Dying, maybe?"

Sharing a pointed look with Piers, Dennis shakily smiled. "It's good to have you back, man! We all thought you weren't going to make it!"

"Right. That's why you abandoned me and ridiculed me. You thought I was going to die, so it would be safe to make fun of me. After all, he's not going to be alive soon, so it's no big deal!"

Piers pleaded, "We didn't mean any of it, Big D!"

"Sure, you didn't. I'm supposed to believe a bunch of two-faced losers like you four."

Dennis' face contorted into one of both anger and shock. "What?"

"I can't believe I used to be like you! Like you four, I was just sitting here and acting stupidly. Listen you no-brain rats," he yelled. "I'm not like you anymore and I won't stand for you doing this! What you're going to do now is leave and never bother any of us again!"

"But, Dud! We're your friends! You can't do this us!"

"You are NOT my friends. Friends don't leave you when they find out you're broke. Friends don't make fun of you and humiliate you when they find out you're going to die. I have friends now and they are not you. Now get lost!"

Dudley's tirade had become more passionate and threatening with every word. The four of them scampered with Dennis screaming, "We'll get you for this, Dursley!" Dennis, however, was the one running away the fastest. He then recalled that Dennis had very good survival instincts.

After a moment of shocked silence, Jerry said, "You were awesome. Really awesome."

Cami asked quietly, "Were you really part of their gang before?"

"Yeah," he admitted.

"And you were going to die?"

He nodded. "They left me once they found out that Grunnings hit rock bottom. I had a heart condition earlier and I was dying. They then started to humiliate me and make fun of me once they learned that. I recovered though, so it seems that I gave them quite a shock."

Jerry smiled at him. "They looked like they were about to go in their pants! It was hilarious!" He punched him playfully on the shoulder. "I'm glad you're in our gang now."

Alyce said, "So, Dudley passed your so called 'test', Jerry?"

"With flying colors. I can't befriend someone who doesn't stand up to those creeps! We do tend to do that a lot."

"I won't let you do that alone then," Dudley promised.

<><><>

Dudley returned home earlier than his mother. They anticipated this, so Petunia taught him how to make a few simple and healthy meals so he wouldn't have to wait. Getting out the stir-fry pan and the cutting board, he reflected on his new friends.

Jerry was a happy-go-lucky kind of guy. He wasn't afraid to speak his mind. Judging from what the others said and what had happened, this got him into trouble sometimes. He was a brilliant science student as his parents were biologists. He, however, absolutely hated insects. Even worse for him, insects were the topic his parents were studying at the moment. Jerry complained loudly of the state of his house now. "I swear, one day, I'm going to get a heart attack. Everywhere! Bugs! Why do they have to bring them home?! Aah! Is that a wasp?!" He oiled the pan slightly and put it over the stovetop.

Dudley got out some meat and vegetables and with a knife, began chopping them up. Cami Weaver was a different person. She was born blind, but tried not to let it limit her. Cami hated pity and sympathy over her blindness. She believed she could make a good and wonderful life for herself even without her sight. For one thing, she took art classes and seemed to be very good at pottery. She loved heavy metal and liked a lot of noise around her. Despite that though, she was a relatively quiet person with an extremely sharp wit. Sammy, her seeing eye dog, was by her side constantly. The blind girl never failed to praise and compliment her eyes to the world. He tossed the food into the pan, now hot.

Alyce was like Jerry: talkative. He vigorously flipped and stirred the vegetables in the pan over the stove's flame. The difference was that she was generally more tactful. She was very conscious of how she looked since the popular girls had ridiculed her so much. Alyce had a large family, all of them possessing a love for food and cooking. Culinary Delights was a successful restaurant in town. Sometimes even famous people went there. According to Cami, she had a habit of defending people from bullies and helping people. Dudley was surprised she even dared to associate with him, considering what he used to act like.

He sat down at the table with his dinner. He had made sure that there was some extra and put it away in the refrigerator. That way his mother could have a meal waiting for her. Dudley smiled at the thought of his new friends. They won't abandon me when times get rough, I'm sure of it. Then he noticed the folded piece of paper on the table. Opening it up, he noticed immediately that his mother had not written this. The handwriting was a beautiful script that looked perfect.

Dudley,

You know who I am. You are doing well for yourself and keeping your end of our bargain. I'm proud of you. Do not worry about Harry for he is safe and well. Value your friends, for your ties with them will give you strength.

I must ask a favor of you. Lately, demons have been breaking into the mortal plain. Yes, unbelievable as it sounds, demons. No, the wizards do not know. They, like other mortals, believe them mythical. They are real, however. I cannot take care of this myself since there are other pressing matters to attend to.

I ask you to take care of these demons for me. You will have help. I won't let you go off alone. For one thing, you are under my protection. But there is another thing. When I healed you, I gave you an extra gift. This gift is a power called 'spirit energy'. It is a type of magic, but not like the wizard's kind. This type is an extension of your being in energy form rather than the casting of spells through the mind in combination with a wand. You will be able to use this power to defeat them. I left you a book on the topic. The more you train and use it, the stronger it will grow. You may wonder why I did not choose a wizard to do this task. The answer is simple: there is a threat over them already and also their narrow-mindedness would blind them. You, I think, are a much better candidate. Please accept this request. I trust you will do well if you do.

Beneath the note was a small book: Spirit Energy, A Guide.

Well, here's my chance to rid the world of weeds. I'll do it. She's done so much for me already. It's the least I can do in return. I have to accept responsibility. It's part of what being a real man is all about.