Harry's Grief - 5

Harry didn't think it would last for long, and he also knew Voldemort didn't really see him as much of a threat. Harry intended to change that – but he had to find that remaining Horcrux first. The research was getting him nowhere, and he had the nagging feeling he was missing something in those Pensieve memories.

The strangest thing that had happened during the time they'd all been together was the odd – camaraderie – that had developed between Draco and Dudley. They certainly weren't friends, but Dudley had become the new "Crabbe" or "Goyle" for Draco. They had their dislike of Harry in common and appeared to be bonding over it.

Dudley had a huge row with his parents a few nights after they'd arrived. Draco had obviously been telling him how much better the magical world was, for Harry was certain he recognized a sneering quality to Dudley's words that hadn't been there before his cousin had met the Slytherin. Dudley was angry with his parents for keeping him away from all this for so long.

Harry was disturbed by Dudley's fascination with Voldemort and everything that happened at the Ministry – his curiosity over how the Death Eaters had done what they did. Still, Dudley had always gravitated toward a gang of bullies; he wasn't certain why he expected it would be any different in the Wizarding world.

His aunt and uncle were torn. Their intense hatred for anything magical was warring with their lifelong habit of giving Dudley anything he desired. They wanted Dudley to have the fame and greatness that the Wizarding world had promised him – they just wanted him to have it without the magic part, and they didn't know which way to turn.

Aunt Petunia constantly burst into tears, nearly begging Dudley to simply look at her. His staunch refusal was tearing her apart. Naturally, both Dursleys blamed Harry for their situation. They appeared completely out of their element now that they were forced to depend on himfor their well-being.

Harry found the whole situation rather ironic.

He knew Mrs. Weasley was taking great pleasure in making Aunt Petunia uncomfortable. Aunt Petunia was terrified of the house-elves, and he'd noticed Mrs. Weasley directing them to enter his aunt's room for any number of reasons. His heart had surged with affection for Mrs. Weasley each time.

He'd also heard the twins were running a betting pool on which one of the Weasley brothers could actually cause that vein in Uncle Vernon's temple to finally burst. Harry appreciated that, too and placed his money on Fred being the one to do it.

He'd woken up the morning after Remus's death on the couch in the common room. Ginny had slipped back up to her own room during the night, and he'd been able to catch a decent night's sleep. In fact, he'd since spent several more nights on that couch when the snoring in his dormitory became too much to bear.

Oddly enough, he'd heard Draco complaining rather vocally about Dudley's snoring on several occasions, but he wasn't about to offer to switch rooms with Dudley. Harry shuddered at the thought of sharing a room with Draco Malfoy. He'd rather suffer exhaustion than that.

This afternoon, Harry quickly ran down the steps towards the Great Hall. He'd planned to meet Moody there after lunch, and he hoped to do it without his friends noticing. He needed to ask Moody a question, and he didn't want to see the expressions on the other's faces when he asked it.

Moody promptly joined him, his wooden leg clunking on the floor as he walked. Harry had to admit, he liked having the Aurors at Hogwarts. The school has seemed empty and dead before their arrival, as if the whole place was still in mourning over Dumbledore's loss.