Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to JK Rowling. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 167: Moving
1 AUGUST 1997
INSIDE SEPARATE - MIRROR DIMENSION
Because Harry birthday had passed, he was now legally seventeen years old. That meant the blood wards protecting Privet Drive were no longer active.
From this moment onward, they were fully exposed to Voldemort threat.
Dudley understood the danger more than the others, ever since he and his brother entered Dark Dimension. Steve Rogers and Dudley Dursley had been quietly preparing a backup plan, creating a duplicated version of the Mirror Dimension as a safe location where they can escape the detection from Voldemort.
A place no enemy could enter, even ally without their permission.
Luckily, when Dudley suggested moving to another location, no one questioned him too much. Perhaps it was because of everything he had done before or perhaps it was because everyone already sensed the growing danger.
He still remembered the conversation from that day.
"I've found a place that is very safe," Dudley said calmly. "Even safer than here."
Everyone turned to look at him, there are Sirius, Amelia, Remus, his parents, Harry and Susan in this room.
"Where?" Sirius asked immediately, his tone serious.
"It's a place that can't be entered easily," Dudley explained. "It requires my permission for anyone to enter."
"Really?" Remus asked, clearly skeptical but curious.
Dudley didn't waste time explaining further. Instead, he raised his hand and opened a portal.
A circular gateway formed in the air, glowing faintly as it revealed another space beyond.
Amelia eyes widened in shock because she had seen that portal before.
The same one Steve Rogers had used to redirect the Death Eaters attacks.
"Where did you learn that magic?" Amelia asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
"From someone named Steve Rogers," Dudley replied casually, not hiding anything. "Do you know him, Aunt?"
"Of course I know him," Amelia said, still staring at the portal. Then she turned to the others and began explaining what had happened the previous year.
How the ministry found out about Death Eater attack and how surprised they are seeing him. Remus eyes widened as he listened and the others in the room were equally stunned.
Harry, unable to hold back his curiosity, looked at Dudley.
"How did you get Steve to teach you that kind of magic?" he asked.
Over the past year, Steve had also become one of the instructors in the Dumbledore Army Club. At first, it felt strange, why a first-year student teaching alongside Dudley but Steve had proven himself. Not only was he capable but his control over magic was very good.
In some cases, even better than certain professors.
"The perks of being an instructor," Dudley replied with a small smirk.
Hearing this, Susan quickly added so others could know what they are talking about "Steve Rogers was also one of the instructors in the D.A. Club alongside Dudley."
Amelia turned to Dudley with narrowed eyes. "And you didn't tell me this before?"
"Well," Dudley shrugged, "I'm just a student… and you're the Minister of Magic."
Amelia sighed, clearly not satisfied with that answer.
"Wait a minute," Remus suddenly spoke up. "Doesn't anyone find it strange that an eleven-year-old can use magic like that?"
Dudley didn't hesitate.
"Well, we're geniuses," he said confidently.
Remus made a face, clearly unconvinced.
Before he could argue further, Petunia cut in.
"Dudley, next time, invite him to your birthday party," she said.
Dudley grinned. "A bit late for that. My birthday already passed."
Petunia crossed her arms. "You should've told us about him earlier."
Dudley scratched the back of his head.
"…Sorry, Mom," he said.
......
31 AUGUST 1997
SUSAN BONES BIRTHDAY - AFTER PARTY
"I can't believe he's really gone," Dudley muttered quietly.
His voice wasn't loud, but in the heavy silence surrounding them, it was enough to heard by everyone in the house.
Harry, Hermione and the others nearby all heard him. For a moment, no one spoke. They still couldn't believe that the greatest white Wizard had passed away. Dumbledore's death pressed down on them, making it hard to even breathe properly by thinking of that old man.
It wasn't just the loss of a headmaster.
It was the loss of the wizarding world, the man who stood at the very top of the wizarding world.
Hermione lowered her head, clutching her shirt lightly. Susan shifted awkwardly, her usual words nowhere to be found. Even Harry, who had faced danger so many times, felt something tighten in his chest.
"Yeah…" Harry finally said, his voice quieter than usual. "It doesn't feel real."
Just a few months ago they attend the funeral of Albus Dumbledore, man gone not because of War but due to his old age.
Dumbledore passed away means one less people who are capable of facing him alone.
Amelia Bones and the rest of the Order of the Phoenix had already begun preparing for that moment. Defensive measures, protective enchantments, coordinated strategies, they were doing everything they could.
But even so.... there was still a sense of unease.
Because Voldemort had not made a move. For months now, there had been no attacks from Death Eaters
It was as if they had simply vanished but thanks to Severus Snape, they know what Voldemort had done. That man had quietly training more powerful magic and making himself stronger.
"It's too quiet," Hermione whispered.
Then Harry let out a breath and tried to force a small smile.
"Well… at least that madman hasn't done anything stupid yet."
Dudley snorted softly. "Yeah. Otherwise we'd already be in chaos."
"Or maybe…" Harry said slowly, "he's afraid of you."
Dudley raised an eyebrow.
"Afraid of me?"
"I'm serious," Harry continued. "After what happened at Bones Manor… anyone would think twice."
The memory flashed briefly in his mind, Dudley standing alone facing multiple Death Eaters even standing against Voldemort himself.
It wasn't just Harry who thought this, Amelia Bones believed it too.
That was why she hadn't dared to rebuild Bones Manor or return to live there alone. The risk was too great, even for someone as powerful as her.
Susan won't let her aunt to also live alone and her niece are safer staying close to Dudley than anywhere else.
Dudley couldn't help but chuckle.
"I appreciate the confidence," he said with a faint smile. "But don't rely on me too much."
Harry shook his head. "Too late for that."
Their eyes met briefly and suddenly they laughed.
"Why you both laughed?"
"Nothing," said Harry.