Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to JK Rowling. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 158: Fall In Love
"Let's meet again, Hermione," Steve said, trying to keep his voice normal as he can.
Hermione adjusted the stack of books in her arms. "If you have any questions about your studies that you don't understand, you may ask me," she offered to guide him because she liked how Steve are so enthusiast in learning magic.
"Thank you," Steve replied with a warm smile. "That saves me a lot of trouble."
Hermione gave him a small nod before turning and walking away, her robes swaying behind her.
Steve stood there for a moment longer with a small smile on his lips, watching her disappear between the bookshelves.
Then.... a firm arm suddenly hooked around his shoulder.
"So…" Dudley's voice whispered near his ear. "Are you falling in love with someone?"
Steve nearly jumped out of his skin.
"Jeez! You almost gave me a heart attack!" Steve hissed, clutching his chest dramatically.
Dudley only smirked, he had been standing nearby for quite some time, watching the entire interaction unfold. It was painfully obvious to him how nervous Steve had been. After all, in his past, Steve had always admired Hermione Granger and even talked to Dudley about her.
Seeing the real version of her? Won't steve act normal? No he acted flustered but trying to maintain a good first impression her.
"Don't be so dramatic," Dudley said calmly. With a casual wave from his arm, he cast Muffliato to prevent anyone from overhearing. "So? How does it feel meeting your idol in person?"
Steve hesitated, then decided there was no point hiding it because his brother had long known his admiration to Hermione Granger.
"She's… incredible," he admitted quietly. "Even more than I imagined."
Dudley raised an eyebrow. "That's saying something."
"It's different," Steve said, rubbing the back of his neck. "In the books, she's intelligent and brave. But seeing her in person… she's sharper and more alive."
Dudley chuckled. "Brother this is not 1 or 2 Dimension, we live here and it feel alives. By the way just wait until September 19th. After that, you're free to flirt with her properly."
Steve froze hearing the word September 19th and suddenly remembered something, that is the day of Hermione birthday.
The moment she legally became an adult in the wizarding world.
"You...." Steve pointed accusingly at him before lowering his hand with a sigh. "Do you honestly think she would like me? I'm legally eleven years old."
Dudley tilted his head thoughtfully. "Doesn't your character template allow you to adjust your physical age?"
Steve blinked.
"If I remember correctly," Dudley continued casually, "the Ancient One maintained a youthful appearance for decades. Sure, it came at the cost of her hair turning bald but still."
Steve mind began racing.
He could regulate cellular aging. He could accelerate or stabilize his physical form. It wasn't impossible.
He stared at Dudley in disbelief.
"You're right," Steve said slowly, then broke into a grin. "Thanks, Dudley."
"Don't thank me yet," Dudley replied, his expression shifting into something more serious. "Eventually, you'll have to show your real strength. Especially when Tom returns from that Dark Dimension."
Both brothers fell silent.
The memory of what they had seen upon returning to Hogwarts still lingered heavily in their minds.
It was true.... Dumbledore had taken the Gaunt ring and even for Ancient one knowledge, it proves to be difficult to treat that old man.
Furthermore, it would raise suspicion on how first year knows about it unless Steve broke the law of transmigrator and said about his real self. Or her can also said, someone named Yao from other dimension throw him to this dimension with a set a new knowledge, so he could legally try to find cure for Dumbledore.
Yesterday, after the sorting and dinner. Dudley had personally confronted Dumbledore about it.
"What happened with Dumbledore?" Steve asked quietly. "You met him, didn't you?"
Dudley's smile faded.
"Yes," he answered grimly. "And things are more complicated than you think, I have warned that old man before but because he believed with his own strength, he decided to go alone hunting that horcrux, it is so frustrating."
"Spill everything," requested Steve.
.........
1September 1996
Flashback, Headmaster Office
"Dudley, my dear boy," smiled Dumbledore like a good old man. "I have expected you might come here."
Dudley looked at Dumbledore from face to hand and it stopped there for a while. Noticing this, Dumbledore smiled weakly and asked Dudley about it.
"It looks like you have noticed it," said Dumbledore.
"You are dying," Dudley decided to become direct with him.
Dumbledore smiled faltered, it confirmed his suspicion.
"You sound strange old man, you looks like someone who just accepted whatever would come on you. You got this from hunting Horcrux wasn't it?" Dudley stating the obvious.
The magical potrait who just wanted to sleep become fully awake hearing the response from Dudley.
Dumbledore just exhaled his breath and then taking something out from the drawer and it was the ring from Gaunt family.
[CONGRATULATIONS YOU FINALLY MEET THE LAST DESTROYED HORCRUX]
[YOU ARE INDIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED BY GIVING THE INFORMATION TO DUMBLEDORE]
[REWARD: GRINDELWALD FULL TEMPLATE POWER]
Seeing the notification, Dudley entered his gamers mode otherwise he might shout with joy
"You are brilliant Dudley, it is true what you said about me," said Dumbledore. "I shouldn't hunt this Horcrux alone."
After he managed to calm himself down, he turned off the gamers mode.
"Professor, show me what happen there using the pensieve," requested Dudley while pointing to one of the rack where Pensieve was located.
"It seems you know well about pensieve," said Dumbledore while going to the rack and pick up the pensieve.
"Yeah, I had one at home," revealed Dudley.
For a moment Dumbledore mouth stared wide open before chucking a bit.
"Dudley, my time is limited but I will try to give more information about Voldemort to you," said Dumbledore before taking out his wand.
Seeing the wand, Dudley recognize it immediately.
He entered gamers mode instantly and casted disarming charm to Dumbledore and the headmaster didn't notice or maybe is weak enough are hitted by the spell.
Dudley moved forward and catch the wand with his other hands.
Instantly he feel the connection to the wand.