Redemption

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With the funerals over, Dudley was trying to find another excuse to meet Pansy. As much as he thought, he found no useful idea. She still was a rich (by his standards) witch who could go anywhere and do anything she wished, while he was a teen muggle, with no real money, no profession and not much knowledge. He was determined to correct his situation as much as he could, but he wasn't sure she would even stay interested in him for much longer. He didn't feel he had much to offer.

Pansy surprised him. It was after the last funeral. They had agreed beforehand that she would come home with him. He still owed her some explanations about the electrical instruments in his room. They went first to her house, where she changed into a normal looking jeans and t-shirt, tied her hair into a pony-tail and took a light overcoat in her hand, along with a small handbag of the kind young women used to carry. She apparated them both to the secluded corner of the playground. She hid her wand in an inside pocket and grabbed his hand playfully. "We can just be a couple now."

He wasn't sure if she was speaking about their relationship or just their appearance. He still enjoyed her company. Now, that fewer things were reminding her of the war, she seemed to be quite vivacious, with a keen humor and resounding laughter. Dudley liked to hear it, especially after having witnessed her moods for about two weeks. It was refreshing, seeing her act care-free, as expected of a young woman her age.

Petunia was still watching TV when they arrived. She noticed Pansy just barely and nodded to her. Dudley was sure she would come later to his room and try to find some more about his new friend. He still didn't dare thinking of her as his girlfriend.

Despite her eagerness to learn about the muggle way of life, Pansy preferred to just cuddle with Dudley and watch MTV, which was good for her mood and didn't require any mental or emotional effort from her. She wasn't sure she could make any effort at the moment, and Dudley had warned her about his parents.

Petunia came with some refreshments about half an hour later, when her soap opera was finished. "Please stay for dinner," she said to Pansy. "I always like to get to know Dudley's friends," she added.

"Well, my parents aren't home, so I can stay for dinner tonight," Pansy said.

"Why don't you stay overnight? We have a nice guestroom where you can sleep well," Petunia offered.

Dudley had already discussed it with her. "If you can lend me a night gown, I'll gladly accept your offer," Pansy said.

"Don't you go to school?" Petunia asked.

"I do, or rather did. I've been in a private boarding school in Wales, but we had a fire there a few months ago, destroying large parts of the building. Luckily, nobody got hurt, but the school had to close for repairs. I'll have to go to school again once it reopens, to finish my education. I understand that Dudley, here, also needed to lose some studies due to the witness protection program. I hope you don't need protection any longer."

"Thankfully, it's over. We really had a rough year, unable to live at home and needing to constantly move from one hideout to another." This was sincerely how she felt. She shook her head, as if trying to get rid of the memory. "Dudley, please show your friend to the guest room and help her settle down while I'll start preparing dinner."

Pansy considered offering some help, but knew she was unable to do much. It would only make keeping her secret more difficult.

The guest room was about the size of Dudley's room, but with no computer desk, no TV and no music system, it had room enough for a double bed with two nightstands and a small wardrobe. Dudley showed her the light switches. Except for some decorations, the room had nothing else in it.

"I expect you to join me in bed as soon as your parents retire for the night," she told Dudley. "The nights you didn't stay with me were much harder to bear."

Dudley gulped. "Mom uses to check on me when she wakes up," he noted.

"Lock the door, then. You're old enough to get some privacy. I will surely lock the door, once you join me." Dudley thought he heard a slight mischief in her voice.

They spent another hour cuddled together, not really watching TV, before they heard Vernon's car. Pansy felt Dudley tensing even before he said a word.

"It's my father. Remember – no mention of anything not normal and don't use any word associated with Magic."

Pansy smiled comfortingly, although feeling some butterflies in her stomach. "It will be fine, you'll see."

Vernon came in, kissed his wife good-evening, as usual, took the paper and sat in front of the TV. Dudley descended with Pansy and approached him.

"Good evening, Dad."

Vernon only grumbled, not even looking at his son.

"Dad, I'd like you to meet my new friend."

This made Vernon put down his newspaper and lift his eyes. He seemed surprised to find a girl standing timidly near Dudley. He scanned her quickly, a habit he had perfected since working at sales. He could see that her clothes, although looking plain, were of very high quality. The girl looked about Dudley's age and seemed nice enough. He found nothing offensive in her.

"Dad, this is Miss Pansy Parkinson, whom I met two weeks ago at the mall. Pansy, this is my Dad, Vernon Dursley, Sales Manager at Grunning Drill enterprises," Dudley handled the introductions.

"Nice to meet you Mr. Dursley. I think that my Dad has some shares in your company." She felt very Slytherin talking this way. It made her father, and her, more important for her host while sounding innocent enough.

"It's my pleasure, Miss Parkinson," Vernon answered politely.

"You may call me Pansy. Almost everybody else does."

Mentioning the shares seemed to be a good decision. Vernon tried to be on his best behavior. Learning she was also attending a private boarding school added to her image.

"Where is that school?" Vernon asked.

"In Wales. They keep the exact address secret, as some of the students come from very rich families. They fear to attract some undue attention, you understand."

It was the kind of reply to shut Vernon up. Petunia was delighted to have this girl as a guest. She evidently had very good table manners and was extremely polite, just the way Petunia thought high-class girls should behave. She was glad that her Dudikins was finally showing some interest in the opposite s*x and bringing home such a nice girl. It was also reminding her of an old ache, of losing a pregnancy when Dudley was merely two years old. The doctors had then said that another pregnancy could cost her her life. Now, she was starting to think of grandchildren...

Dudley stayed quite tense until dinner was over, even though Pansy relaxed soon after it started. "Thank you for a very nice dinner," she said to a beaming Petunia.

Vernon watched the TV for another hour. He then excused himself and went upstairs. His snoring could be heard a few minutes later. Petunia finished cleaning the kitchen and the dining area, refusing Pansy's help. "You're a guest here. You don't need to do it," she told Pansy, when offered some help. Once she made the kitchen sparkle, she bid the youngsters goodnight and joined her husband.

Dudley taught Pansy some more about the TV, video-tape and DVD in the living room and then turned off the lights and escorted her to her room. "I'll let you use the bathroom first. Let me know when you've finished," Dudley told her.

"And don't forget to kiss me goodnight in bed," she whispered, kissing his cheek.

Dudley changed in his room, putting on his pajamas and wondering if this girl would really like him even after she learned about his family and about how he had treated Harry as a child. He had not kept it secret, really, but he had not elaborated either. Well, she also seemed to have a few things in her past of which she wasn't too proud. He really hoped their relationship would keep indefinitely. Pansy had become the most important person in his life during the few days since he had first met her. He would like her to stay that way.

A knock on his door brought him out of his thoughts. He opened, noticing that Pansy was wearing a modest dressing gown over her nightgown. "Your turn now," she said, motioning towards the bathroom. "Be quick. I'm waiting for you."

Dudley now wished he could have locked his room. If ever there was a key to that door, it was long since lost. He usually positioned a heavy chair at the door when he wanted some privacy. It could give him just long enough to straighten up and look innocent, in case his mother came to check on him. He really hoped she wouldn't try it in the morning.

He used the bathroom, doing everything as quickly as he could. Coming out, he noticed that Pansy had left her door ajar. He walked into her room and closed the door. This one also had a key. He locked the door and moved into the bed, to the place Pansy was patting for him. She cuddled into him, as had already become her habit. "Goodnight, Pansy," he said, caressing her hair.

"Goodnight, dear," she said sleepily. A moment later he felt her body relax as sleep took over her.

Dudley couldn't relax like her. He was turning her words in his mind over and over again. What could she mean by calling him "dear"? He felt like he should have known, had he been paying attention to some of the language and literature lessons at school. Harry would have known, he was sure, but Dudley? Well, whatever she meant, he sure wanted her to continue calling him "dear", cuddle at his side and let him hug her before falling asleep. He didn't know what his feelings meant. He'd have to talk with Pansy. She was much smarter. She would know...

Dudley woke up slowly, enjoying the flowery smell that reached his nose, the slightly ticklish feeling of the long hair that was flying around his face, the warmth of the body that was pressed firmly onto his and the soft something that his hand was cupping. It took him some time to understand what he was feeling. He was spooning with Pansy, smelling and feeling her long hair and her body, while his hand was cupping her... breast! He hurriedly tried to take his hand away, only to find it firmly held in place by Pansy's hand. She seemed to be already awake, judging by her breathing.

"Don't you like to feel me?" she asked him, pressing herself even harder into his large body and keeping his hand on her breast.

"I like it very much, really. I'm just afraid I might react inappropriately or I might offend you. I really like you." It took him a moment to comprehend what he had said.

"I'm not offended by your reaction. It's just natural." She wiggled her bottom against the bulge in his trousers, making Dudley groan in frustration. "I also like it when you touch my tits." She moved his hand under her gown, letting him touch her skin and feel her n****e harden. "I think I'm starting to like you as more than a friend."

Dudley didn't feel like he could properly respond. He wasn't sure he could really understand what she meant, although his body seemed to react in a way he found embarrassing. He was glad she didn't find it inappropriate. Finally, hearing his father go down for breakfast, made his mind start functioning again. "I think it would be safer if I go to my room now, before Mom starts checking on me. We can then sleep for another hour, if you want."

"I can no longer sleep without you," she confessed. "The few nights you had to stay here and not me, I barely slept a wink. Memories and nightmares kept haunting me."

Dudley frowned. "I don't think my parents would like you to stay long and if I keep sneaking into your bed, Mom may react really badly."

"We can spend the nights in my house," she suggested.

"We'll talk about it later," Dudley said, afraid his mother would find them if he didn't return promptly to his room.

He found the door to his room partly open, yet the room was dark enough to make whoever peeked in believe that he was still sleeping. He had even left a pillow under the blanket, looking as if he was still in bed, if someone didn't look too closely. He hoped his mother didn't.

Petunia knocked on his door soon after Vernon left.

"You've been with Pansy the whole night," she stated.

It was not a question, yet an answer was really expected. "Pansy has nightmares since that... fire. She only cuddles to me in order to be able to sleep. We do nothing inappropriate," Dudley said.

"I'm sure you behave as a gentleman should, but does she act like a lady?"

He wanted to retort, 'How would I know the ways a lady acts?' but thought it was inappropriate. "Mum, Pansy's parents are abroad. They didn't expect her to need them before the end of term. She needs somebody and she found me. I'm glad to be there for her in any way she wants me."

Petunia's eyes got wet and she hugged her son. "Oh, Dudikins! You are such a good child! I'm so proud of you!"

She then released him and turned serious again. "Still, if and when you become closer, do take appropriate precautions. I'm sure your father has told you what to do even if they don't teach this at school."

He smiled at his mother. Despite all her defects, he knew she really loved him. "I promise not to make you a grandmother before giving you a daughter-in-law," he said solemnly.

Petunia just smiled tearfully and left the room.