New Beginnings

From a distance, Harry watched the small crowd of people gather around the grave of Vernon Dursley, thankful that he wore his Invisibility Cloak. He didn't have to be there and he knew that the people at the funeral would vehemently object to him being there, particularly the large hulking figure that Harry recognized as Aunt Marge, Vernon Dursley's highly obese and equally bigoted sister. The last time Harry had seen her, he was thirteen years old and literally blew her up when she said bad things about his parents.

Harry couldn't help smiling at his remark, although his smile faded a little and became more of a sneer as he heard the church minister talk about "Vernon Dursley, devoted husband, loving father, and a man beloved by his peers."

He was thankful that George Weasley wasn't there with him, because he could imagine the man making vomiting noises, disrupting the ceremony, and causing an incident. He managed to stifle a chuckle as he realized that Fred would have beaten George to the punch and gone even further...setting off dung-bombs and maybe even some fireworks in celebration. There was a pang of sadness as he remembered the deceased Weasley and the others...and that gave way to anger as he watched the funeral continue...as if it made a mockery of the fallen.

Vernon Dursley was not "a good man", as the minister had put it. Then again, the Muggles didn't know the real Vernon Dursley. For a moment, Harry felt cheated. UncleVernon had made his life a living hell and Harry found himself wishing he could find something sharp to impale the body with just to make sure the bastard was dead.

The funeral went on for another half hour before the coffin was lowered into the ground and people lined up to pay their final respects. Harry recognized some of the neighbors from Privet Drive, but he noticed that with the exception of Aunt Marge, none of the other Dursleys were there. He saw Piers Polkiss, Dennis, and Gordon...three of Dudley's former gang who used to torment him. And yet...there was no sign of his cousin during the whole ceremony. He stood there and watched the others leave Vernon's grave.

Harry was about to leave when he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned to see a tall man with long blond hair wearing an overcoat standing about fifty feet away. The newcomer watched the last of the people leave the grave before heading in that direction. He was about halfway to the grave when he stopped for a moment and looked around. When he looked in Harry's direction, the hint of a grin pulled at the corner of his mouth and Harry felt that the man could see him. But that wasn't possible....was it?

Then the realization hit Harry...that was Dudley!

After standing there in shock for a few seconds, Harry followed his cousin to Vernon's grave.

Dudley stood there for a moment before reaching into his coat and pulling out a bottle of whiskey which he poured into the open grave, the liquid splashing across the coffin before being joined by the empty bottle.

"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust," said Dudley, his voice barely carrying any emotion. "It's finally over."

They both stood there over the open grave, each standing on opposite sides in silence until, after a couple minutes, Dudley looked up at Harry.

"You know...you could drop the mojo, Harry. They're gone and I know you're standing there."

Harry pulled off the invisibility cloak and placed in it his coat. "How could you see me?" he asked.

Dudley gave him a tiny smile. "I didn't...I sensed that someone was there and the only one of your kind who'd even want to come to dad's funeral would be you." He then gestured at the coffin in the grave. "So, come to put a stake through his heart to make sure he's dead?"

"No...although the thought had crossed my mind for a moment."

"No doubt," said Dudley. "I know I should feel something, Harry, but it's not grief. I'm not gonna' lie...he's dead, and I can't help feeling relieved about it. And I'm not surprised out how he died...a heart attack...he brought it on himself."

"That's kind of harsh, Dudley...he was your father."

"Yeah," Dudley snorted. "He WAS my father...but he stopped being that to me two years ago when I left."

Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. Then again, he couldn't believe that the tall muscular man was formerly the orca-sized boy that used to torment him when they were children. But what shocked Harry the most was the look in Dudley's eyes...the haggard, haunted look of someone who had seen too much for someone his age. Harry recognized the look because he saw that same look whenever he looked in the mirror.

"Dudley, what hap-"

"What happened to me? Where have I been? What have I've been doing with myself?" Dudley flashed Harry a grin. "Lots of things. Around, but mostly in San Francisco. And the usual thing that people our age do...like getting into trouble, traveling, working, and dealing with dark things that want to kill, dismember, or suck the soul out of us." He paused for a moment as he stared at his father's tombstone before turning back to Harry. "So, does that answer your questions?"

Dudley's answer struck Harry as humorous for a moment, but something in Dudley's voice told Harry that his cousin was actually serious. However, that didn't stop him from smiling and extending his hand. "It's good to see you again, Big D."

"I'm not sure if that's entirely truthful," chuckled Dudley as he shook Harry's hand. "But I'll take it. Look, this is kind of awkward having a family reunion over Dad's grave...you think we can go to a pub or something and talk? I don't normally drink, but I could really use some bourbon."

"Yeah, good idea," said Harry as he and Dudley walked away from the grave.