I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good: Dudley again

[alt_terry]

I'm making friends with Dudley.

We started off sort of like friends right away, when we met. Or anyway, friendly acquaintances. It made sense. We're both stuck here, and we're the same age, so it would have been natural. But the git did something really rotten to both of us, and tried to fix it so we'd blame each other. It hurt a lot, having that monster go out of his way to ruin something that might have been a lifeline for both of us: a real friend.

I thought a lot about it, and then I decided the best way to spite the git would be to do something he would never expect. Make a friend out of Dudley, in spite of everything.

It was hard at first. Dudley was skittish, and real suspicious of me, and I don't blame him a bit. He wouldn't let me get near him. But I just waited and watched until he went out to do one of his hardest chores--burying one of the dead prisoners. And then I quietly went and started helping him dig the grave. It takes a long time for two kids to do it without magic. We didn't say anything, but he could see I was working just as hard as him. I helped him put the prisoner in the grave, and we covered him up. And then we stood there together, looking down at the mound of earth. He spoke for the first time in hours. 'Maybe it'll be you next time. Maybe it'll be me.'

I thought about it and then decided to take the risk. I wanted to show him I was willing to trust him. 'It won't be me. I'm going to try to get away.'

He jammed the spade back into the ground. 'You used magic on me. Didn't you?'

My heart started beating like anything. When he'd been hurt, I used my wand to heal him. But I'd told him to close his eyes. 'How'd you know?'

'Maybe I peeked a little. Besides, I ain't dumb.'

'What are you going to do about it?'

'I won't tell him,' he said with scorn.

I let out a breath slowly. 'Good.'

I gave him the other shovel, but he held on to it, and looked me straight in the eye for the first time. 'Take me with you when you go. I know the land around here. I could help you.' He could see I was hesitating, and he added defiantly, 'I didn't tell. I wouldn't. I'd die first.'

My magic tells me sometimes when someone can be trusted. And it was telling me to trust him. 'Then I'll take you with me.'

He smiled. I smiled back and left him there, his bare feet sunk deep into the dirt of the grave.

Comments

[alt_ron]

I'm glad you've got someone you can trust. Besides that ghost.

I mean, the ghost seems dead useful, but having someone alive, even if you can't talk much, it could help you a lot when you get your chance.

Would you really take him with you? I mean, would he slow you down?

[alt_terry]

I might slow him down. See, the wild card in all this is that I can't escape without mastering the animagus transformation, but I don't know what my animagus form is. Not yet.

I mean, think about it. I could be something so big that's it's hard to hide. Or an animal that doesn't see very well, or needs help getting food. Or so small that it can't travel very fast. I might need his help. And he DOES know the land around here, and all the routines of the local camp. That might be a big help.

On the other hand, I have a wand, and I know about the haversack that Justin buried. And I have the name of a contact outside who might help us.

But more than that, my gut just tells me it's the right thing to do. I can't leave him here alone to face the git's wrath.

[alt_terry]

I might be really struggling if we can't break that blood spell, too. He might need to carry me. If I'm small enough.

If I survive

[alt_neville]

I'm almost afraid to ask this, but how's it been with the git lately? Has he been leaving you alone?

[alt_terry]

Hard to predict. He was concentrating on the prisoners for awhile, mostly ignoring me.

Then he beat me up pretty badly Tuesday night. Don't worry, I was able to fix myself up again. Mostly. And he did the Cru

Now he's all happy and humming because his sister says she's coming to spend the summer with him.

[alt_luna]

Sometimes the most inspiring plants are the ones that grow where you don't expect them. Like between the cracks of concrete. And hence, the loveliest.

I'm glad that you can find a friend even in the most difficult places.