Redemption

Parkinson Manor

Pansy steadied Dudley as they arrived and was amused to see his eyes widen as he scanned his surroundings. She knew her home was nice, but not very elegant; certainly not one of the best or the richest. She let him look around for a bit longer and then grabbed his hand. "Come, I think we should at least drink something."

Dudley followed her obediently, his eyes watching the moving pictures on the walls, the paneled wall-covers and the chandeliers, which turned on with a multitude of candles in each, giving a soft, vibrating glow. He was only thinking, 'Mom would have loved this place, if it wasn't magical.'

A house elf welcomed them at the kitchen door. Dudley had already seen some while in hiding, yet only from a distance. This one was up-close and looked even uglier. "What can Gopsy do for Mistress and her guest?" it said.

Pansy asked for some beverage and asked for a small dinner to be ready a bit later.

It was a pleasant evening. Dudley thought that pumpkin juice was quite nice and he really liked butterbeer. He liked even more sitting on the couch, hugging the girl and talking softly about everything and nothing, feeling really content. The funerals were promptly forgotten.

Gopsy (Dudley couldn't tell if it was male or female) served them a very tasty dinner. Dudley thought that it looked somewhat pensively at him, but he wasn't sure he could really interpret such creatures correctly.

Pansy's mood deteriorated as dinner came to its end. She dreaded staying alone in the manor and she knew it would not be acceptable to stay at the Dursleys. "Can you stay here tonight?" she asked Dudley.

He was surprised by her request. Well, everything about her was surprising him. He had only been invited to stay for the night to Piers, when they were both in elementary school. It hadn't been a good experience, though, as Dudley had missed the comfort of his own room terribly. By now he was already accustomed to sleep in different beds and different rooms, as he had to change location several times during the last year. He didn't mind staying in this place, which seemed to be more elegant and luxurious than any he had visited before. "I don't mind staying, but I think I should call my parents and tell them not to worry."

His hand went to the pocket where his mobile phone was. "Stop!" Pansy said forcefully.

He looked at her with some confusion showing on his face.

"You shouldn't operate such a delicate instrument in a magical environment – magic may burn it out. We need to go out, away from the wards, before you can use your phone."

Grabbing his hand, she led him through the entrance door and out to the grounds.

It was the first time Dudley saw this house from outside. He felt humbled by its size. While not as big as a palace, the manor house was four stories high and about as wide as the length of whole Privet drive. It also had two small wings going back, each about half the size of the main part. The front had a portico, held by sculptured columns and the walls were replicating the same motif, with some more reliefs of plants around the large windows on the first and second floors.

The grounds looked like a large park, with well cultivated flower beds spread semi-randomly along the pathways which led further into the dusk.

Pansy hurried forward to the big bronze gate at the end of the access pathway to the house. She pushed the gate open and walked for another minute, almost reaching the regular road there, before stopping. "I hope it's safe enough to use it here," she told Dudley.

He took the mobile phone out of his pocket. It was still functioning. He dialed his home number and waited.

"Mom, I'm staying with friends overnight. I'll only come home tomorrow evening."

Pansy couldn't hear what Petunia was saying, but Dudley didn't seem to like it. "Look, I'm old enough to decide for myself," he said forcefully. A moment later, his face calmed down. "Well, I'm sure I can get some." and then, "I love you too. Goodnight."

He turned back to Pansy. "It didn't go as badly as I feared," he told her. "Now, do you want to tell me a bit about your house and your family?"

The evening was warm enough to stay out late. They just walked around, hugging each other and talking. By the time Gopsy came to remind them of the time, it was nearly midnight.

Pansy showed Dudley to a guestroom, ordering Gopsy to help Dudley use whatever needed activation by magic. She then kissed him briefly, but long enough for him to kiss her back, and retired to her room.

Dudley found an old-style nightgown on his bed. He had never worn a nightgown to bed and had no intention doing it now. "Can you tun this into a pajama?" he asked Gopsy. The house elf turned it into something more to his taste. A quick shower, cleaning his teeth with only his fingers, and he was ready for bed. Once he slipped between the sheets, he felt quite tired. The bed was the right softness and he was ready for sleep, yet he stayed awake. He kept thinking about how these few days had affected him, how this witch had become an important part of his life. He really hoped she would stay in his life indefinitely.

Pansy was also awake in her bed. She had never really subscribed to the notions that considered muggles inferior, yet she had never expected to be close to one. Stumbling into Dudley (literally) had brought a change in her views. She now knew that muggles were much more advanced and more sophisticated than magicals in many ways. She felt eager to learn more; maybe even live among muggles. Yet most of all she felt an unexplainable attraction to this specific muggle, resting in the room across the corridor. His bulk gave her a feeling of assurance and safety, although her mind knew it to be false. She had not been as happy as at the time she spent with him that evening. She felt lonely now, not having him at her side. She knew she would not be able to sleep properly feeling so lonely.

Pansy got out of her bed, put on her dressing gown, and moved quietly. She opened her bedroom door, tiptoed across the corridor and opened the door to the guestroom as silently as she could. Still tiptoeing, she approached the large bed. She expected to see him asleep. She thought she would slip into his bed and slip out before he woke up, yet Dudley was awake.

"Hi," he smiled at her. "Can't sleep?"

She sat on the side of the bed. "Every time I'm lonely, my thoughts go back to that awful night and it takes me hours to get a bit of rest. I hoped you would be asleep by now, so I could cuddle to you and get some sleep."

"You can still do it," he said, pointing at the empty space on the bed.

"It wouldn't be proper," she commented.

"Do you really care?"

Pansy didn't need to think much about it. She was already a pariah for the pure-bloods, just by associating with Potter and with a muggle. Did she care what their opinion about her might be, if they ever found out?

Pansy let her dressing gown fall and slipped into bed. "No hanky-panky though. Is that clear?"

"Do you want me to turn my back to you?"

There was no trace of hesitation in her response. "No. I want to fall asleep being hugged by you."

It was the first time Dudley hugged her with barely anything separating them. He could feel her soft body clinging to his, her breasts pressed into his chest and her legs pressed onto his. It was wonderful. More than wonderful. He was glad and content to hold this girl so close.

Pansy just clung to her man (not even stopping to consider when he had turned from a muggle boy into 'her man') and drifted asleep with a smile.

Both felt a bit awkward in the morning, but well rested and too happy to let this awkwardness affect them. Pansy kissed his lips quickly and left to her room. He was already showered and clothed when she knocked on his door to lead him to breakfast in the family dining room.

Dudley still admired the elegance, but was no longer surprised. He enjoyed breakfast with Pansy more than he enjoyed it at home. More than he enjoyed the food, which was excellent, he enjoyed the company. Once they finished eating, Pansy turned serious again. "I intend to go to three funerals today, two of them are of a married couple. You don't have to accompany me, you know."

"I intend to attend that funeral as well – it is one of those marked on my list. I also want to support you during the ceremonies. I think some company would do you good." He was almost surprised at hearing what he was saying. The old Dudley, the one before the Dementors' attack, would have never thought of helping anybody, but now he was different and he felt a bit proud of himself for the change.

Pansy smiled thankfully. "I really dreaded this day. That man was my defense teacher in third year and I liked him as a teacher and as a person. He was married for less than a year. Now they're both dead, leaving a baby orphan."

This reminded him too much of Harry. "Does the baby have a family to care for him?"

"I think his grandmother is still alive, although his grandfather is among the victims. His funeral will be the first today. I've heard the baby has some young godparents. Maybe they will take care of him." Pansy was not sure of what she had heard.

"I hope he does get a loving family to raise him," Dudley commented, looking very pensive.

He wasn't surprised to find Harry and Hermione already there, trying to support an older woman who looked devastated. "That's Mrs. Andromeda Tonks," Pansy told him. "Her husband was killed by Death Eaters a few months ago, but they could only find the body after the battle. She also lost her daughter and her son-in-law during the battle. Now she has her grandchild to care for and she looks like she can't care for herself right now."

"I've read that taking care of somebody else may help one recover. I hope this can help her," Dudley said.

He was actually glad to see Harry. He noticed how close Hermione stayed to him. "Are they a couple?" he asked Pansy.

"I'm not sure. A year ago, Harry was dating that redhead girl, Ginny. They broke-up before he disappeared, but I'm not sure it was for real. Hermione seemed closer to their redhead friend, yet everybody thinks that Harry and Hermione are meant for each other. I've never been close to them, though," Pansy admitted.

Dudley looked again. The two were so close to each other that one could think they were touching, but they still kept a hair-thin distance between them, as if not daring to close this minute gap. He wondered if it meant they were still unsure of their feelings or if they were close friends, but nothing more.

A tall blonde arrived, accompanied by an Auror, rushing directly to Andromeda. "Andy! I'm so sorry! I wish I could be with you all along, but you know how Lucius is. He even refused to join me here, but I won't let him dictate my life any longer. I'll come and help you as much as I can!"

Pansy grabbed him to put some distance between them and the two sisters. Dudley was somewhat curious how this would turn out, but he knew what was the polite thing to do and he followed Pansy. He could still see how Narcissa hugged Andy and cried with her. He also noted the approving glances on Harry and Hermione, as both distanced themselves, letting the sisters catch up.

It was really heart breaking, burying three members of the same family. Pansy's face ended tear-lined and Dudley also had some wetness in his eyes. Pansy hugged Andy warmly and promised to do all she could to help her. Andy didn't seem to recognize her. Dudley didn't know if they were really strangers before or if Andy was unable to recognize anybody at that moment.

"Let's see if we can join with Potter for lunch, like yesterday," Pansy suggested. He agreed willingly. The more he heard about Harry, the more he appreciated his cousin. He would also make sure that Harry ate well, The boy looked much too thin, Dudley decided.