Redemption

Parkinson Parents

It took them four days of driving. Being new drivers, they didn't dare drive for too long and took many breaks. Even the magically enhanced car needed an alert driver. They changed position every two hours, so none of them would become too tired. They stopped for lunch and also had some snog-breaks. Pansy even tried to do more than that at one secluded place, but it was too cold outside and the car proved less than suitable for such activity. They retired early to bed in whatever lodging they found on the way, but fell asleep quite late, after enjoying each other for hours.

It was the afternoon of the fourth day. Dudley was driving for less than an hour when Pansy said, "I need to drive now. I can no longer instruct you as we are getting closer."

About an hour later they arrived at the gate of what looked like a large ranch, yet the gate was closed. A surveillance camera was mounted on a pole a short distance from the gate and there was an intercom at the side of the gate with a large "Press Here" sign above it.

Pansy opened the window and pressed the button. A stern female voice sounded a moment later. "Who is it?"

"Good afternoon. I'm Pansy Parkinson, daughter of Albert and Jenny Parkinson. I believe at least one of them is staying here," Pansy answered as politely as she could.

"You are not alone, are you?" the voice asked.

"I'm accompanied by my fiancé, Mr. Dudley Dursley, who's helped me with everything."

"Fine, you may come in. Wait for the gate to open fully before driving in."

The large gate started opening outward slowly. Pansy closed the window and waited for the gate to open fully before driving slowly into the enclosed area. Dudley looked back. The gate was closing quite swiftly behind them. As he turned his gaze forward, he was surprised to see a very different view than the one he had seen from the other side of the gate.

The house they were approaching was not a semi-rundown farm house, as seen from the road. It was a large and elegant mansion house, much larger than the Parkinson Manor. It seemed to be more solidly built and had much smaller windows and tall slanting roofs. Dudley thought these had something to do with the climate, though he wasn't sure what.

Two uniformed servants opened the door and waited in front of it. Pansy stopped the car a few paces in front of the door. One of the servants came closer and Dudley recognized it as a house elf. It opened the driver's door while the other opened the passenger's door. "Welcome to Palmer's Manor," they greeted the youngsters. "Please go in at once. We shall bring your luggage in and park the car in the garage."

Despite the shining sun, the air was very cold and the wind was biting. Both youngsters were more than glad to go in and close the door behind them.

Another house elf was waiting there for their overcoats. It then motioned them forward, past the entrance hall and into the main hall of the house. Dudley looked around. The style was quite different than the one of Pansy's home, but it was just as rich. Many paintings lined the walls. About half of them were magical.

A door on the other side of the hall was opened and Dudley heard footsteps running before he noticed the woman in a long dress rushing in. With just a single glance, it was clear that she was related to Pansy. They had the same facial features, the same hair color and the same curvy figure.

"Pansy!" the older woman cried as she hugged the younger one in a tight hug and kissed her forehead. Pansy responded with just as tight a hug. Dudley noticed some wetness in her eyes as well. The two women stayed that way for a long moment, before the elder opened her arms and held Pansy at arm's length, looking attentively at her.

"You look great!" she said. "I was afraid of what that war could have done to you, but now you seem to be more mature and much happier than before." Her glance moved around, resting on Dudley. "Is he the reason for your happiness?" she asked in subdued tone. Dudley could still hear it.

"Mom, I want to introduce you to my dear fiancé, Dudley Dursley. He is a Muggle, but as he's Harry Potter's cousin, he knows quite a bit about the magical world." She turned to Dudley now. "Dudley, this is my mother, Lady Jenny Parkinson née Palmer."

Dudley intended to shake hands with the woman, but she raised her hand and he was reminded of the proper etiquette. He took her hand in his and kissed the back of her hand, as expected. "Pleased to meet you, Lady Parkinson,"

"That's very polite of you, young man, but if I've heard correctly, then you're going to soon be my son-in-law, so you may just call me 'Mom'," she replied, some mischief evident in her voice.

"Sure, La... Mom," Dudley replied, his face turning red.

"Where's Dad?" Pansy asked.

"He'd only arrived here about two months ago, having lost a lot of weight on the way, which I don't mind too much, and looking almost starved. He's been recuperating nicely under my mom's supervision. He's with my Dad now, checking the stables. He would have waited here had he known you would arrive today."

"And how is Gran?"

"Waiting her turn for a kiss," an older voice replied from the other side of the room.

"Granny!" Pansy all but jumped to hug her grandmother tightly. The older woman, who was wearing a simple dress and an apron, as if she had just left the kitchen, hugged Pansy just as tight. "My little baby," she murmured quietly, "you're quite a woman now."

Pansy let herself enjoy the hug a bit longer before turning around to introduce Dudley. "Gran, this is..."

"Yes, I've heard. Welcome, dear. You may also call me Gran. Even my husband does that." She then hugged Dudley tightly. "If you ever hurt my baby..." she whispered in his ear.

"I'll never hurt her if I have anything to say about it!" he promised in a whisper as well.

"That's my boy!" she said, releasing him from the hug. Dudley was thankful. Although not a large woman, her hug was quite powerful.

Dudley recalled Pansy telling him that her grandparents used to come for a visit about once a year, before Voldemort's return. They only urged her family to move to Canada since.

They were soon seated at a low table, sipping some hot tea. The elder women asked Pansy about her time at school during the war and how magical Britain was doing after the war, but refrained from asking about Dudley and about their relationship. He had a feeling they were expecting these questions would be asked once her father joined them.

Mr. Palmer and Mr. Parkinson came home about an hour later. They were surprised to find guests and delighted to see Pansy. Albert Parkinson, a tall wide man who seemed a bit too slim, hugged his daughter tightly. "I'm so glad you managed to escape unharmed! You must tell me everything about the battle of Hogwarts, but first let me look at you."

He held Pansy at arm's length and looked her over, making her blush a little. "You look well. I can see that you're also happy. May I assume this is due to the young man at your side?"

"Yes, Dad. This is Dudley Dursley, my fiancé. He's a muggle and Harry Potter's cousin and we love each other very much."

Albert smiled and looked at Dudley. "He's not too skinny, I see." He then let go of his daughter, walked to Dudley, and shook his hand. "Glad to meet you. Anybody that can make my little girl so happy must have something good in him."

"Glad to meet you, sir. Pansy was quite worried about you until we arrived here. She wasn't sure if you made it here or were still stuck somewhere."

"I made it, alright, although there were times I almost gave up."

Gran intervened. "Dinner time! You may talk after you eat, but now – let's all have dinner!"

Dudley felt at home. He was actually surprised to be accepted so easily into the family. Nobody even suggested to put him in a guest room. They all seemed to expect him and Pansy to share a bed. As much as he enjoyed the warm reception, he was also a bit worried. Won't they have additional expectations from him, ones he would not be able to satisfy?

Yet his worries seemed unbased. He joined the men at inspecting the farm, learned to ride a horse and found out that Gran was muggle-born. Pansy seemed to get even more attractive to him now, engulfed in her family's love. She was also more passionate during love making, something to which he certainly didn't object.

Pansy told her family all she knew about the war, either from personal experience or from what she heard from other, mainly from Harry and Hermione. Even Dudley was able to clear a few points.

He was not so glad to tell about his family, though. "We've been awful. My parents were forced to keep Harry, but they never wanted to, making me act cruelly as well. I repented my deeds after he saved me from dementors, when we were fifteen, and only became closer to him after the war; after meeting Pansy, actually."

"He fought dementors at fifteen?" Albert asked.

"It was actually a few days before his birthday, not that anybody bothered to celebrate it. He made some silvery animal come and get rid of those dreadful creatures."

"You mean to tell me that he produced a full corporeal patronus at that age?"

"Dad, he taught others how to do it only a few months later, and most succeeded, as far as I know," Pansy intervened.

"Are you in good relations with him now?" Albert asked.

Dudley answered. "I believe we are. We had lunch together several times and he asked for my phone number, so he could stay in touch. We got quite busy after the funerals, getting our driving license and making preparation for this trip, and I believe he's been just as busy, after spending almost a year on the run. I'm not sure I'll get a chance to meet him before returning to school, but Pansy will see him at Hogwarts, I believe."

Time passed quickly. "We need to go back soon," Pansy informed her family. "We both need to return to school and finish our education. Dudley was hiding with his family during most of the school year and Hogwarts didn't teach much either."

"You should then go back in time to get ready for school. We shall stay a bit longer here," Jenny said. "This place seems to improve your father's health and I'm enjoying staying a bit longer with my family. We'll come home as soon as it becomes really cold here – usually at the beginning of October."

It took them only two days to drive back. Both were now more experienced as drivers and they no longer felt the urgency to stop for a snog every so often. Pansy sold the car back to the same used car agency, getting most of her money back. They still had a day to spend in Calgary, buying souvenirs before flying back home.