Chapter 12 Dudley
Chapter 12 Dudley
Dudley was under someone. Someone was on top of him, in his mouth, in his hair in his eyes. Infecting his whole body. Peppermint in his nose and groping hands on his body, he thrashed them off but the hands didn’t stop. He hit them, bit at them scratched them but they continued to grab and pinch. Dudley’s body kicking and screaming but surrounded and drowning and being taken. He heard a head hitting stone and woke in a sweat.
‘Dudley?’
Draco was sat a few feet away from him in the middle of the room. Dudley said nothing, letting himself come back into his body. Memories of what happened seeped back in as he slowly woke up. Pain. Earth shattering bone cracking pain over and over. That spell, crucio, he cringed as he thought of the word. It felt different when it came from different people. Bellatrix had been like electricity. Wild and chaotic buzzing pain throughout his body. Voldemort’s was ice cold, like being plunged into ice water but the water was knives and each one was stabbing relentlessly. Lucius and Narcissa had been the most similar, their crucio had felt like being torn. Pulled apart in all directions limbs tearing, bones snapping, organs rupturing. Draco had felt like fire, like being burned alive, a heat like no other. His crucio had lasted only seconds. Draco had severed the spell as fast as he could and Dudley was grateful but it had still been worse than everyone else’s put together. Dudley had half expected his body to be burned or melted.
‘Dudley?’ Dudley looked up at Draco, Dudley was still laid flat on the floor, he wasn’t sure he could move yet.
Draco’s eyes were wet, but hadn’t moved any closer though he was now sat up on his knees.
It wasn’t his fault Dudley told himself.
It wasn’t his fault.
It wasn’t his fault.
It wasn’t his fault.
I gave him permission. Dudley couldn't look at Draco, knowing he had hurt him so badly. No.
It wasn’t Draco’s fault. If it had been Dudley’s choice; watch your mother die or curse a relative stranger he would have done the same. Dudley would not hold this against him.
‘Can I come closer?’ Draco asked
‘No.’ The word was out of Dudley’s mouth so fast he didn’t have a chance to think about his answer. Pain pierced through Dudley’s head sharp as a spear.
‘Sorry, Dudley quickly added.
‘I just need a minute’
‘Of course’ Draco bowed his head in shame, he looked like he was praying head down and on his knees.
‘Dudley.. I-I don’t know what to say’
‘Don’t say anything’
Dudley was still laid on his back, unsure if he was able to sit up. He explored his face with his fingers, his nose felt okay, eye still swollen, headache like there was a beehive in his head.
Dudley pulled the duvet down to his waist and felt the wounds on his still bare chest. He had expected to find blood, oozing and dripping, the cuts had been so deep but instead he found the skin was knitted neatly together, not gaping open. He traced the lines, it felt like words?
‘Does… does it say something?’ He asked Draco just nodded.
‘What?’ Dudley implored.
Silence.
‘Draco? Tell me please’
‘It says ‘muggle filth’
Dudley sagged with relief, he had never thought of being a ‘muggle’ as a bad thing. Dudley was proud to not have magic, he didn’t want it. The words didn’t hurt him the way they had been intended to. He felt marginally better. He didn’t mind being scarred with words that were truth. He would proudly be muggle filth.
‘Did you heal me?’ Dudley asked.
‘Yes. I’m so sorry’
‘With magic?’
It had to have been magic, no muggle medicine could heal cuts so quickly
‘I’m sorry, I had to. I don’t know muggle medicine. I didn’t have a choice, you were so hurt Dudley I needed to do it fast’
Dudley hated the idea of being touched with magic while unconscious, but his wounds were half healed already and for that he was grateful, so he swallowed down his frustration.
‘That’s okay, thanks I guess.’
‘Please don’t say Thankyou, Dudley I just used an unforgivable on you. I - there’s nothing I can say. I can’t keep apologising but I’m sorry. I really didn’t want to do that… my mum. It’s pathetic I know, God I’m so weak Dudley.’ The pain in Draco’s voice was soul crushing. Dudley forced himself to sit up so he could see Draco properly, make him understand that it was okay.
‘I nodded.’ Dudley said simply.
‘You were so brave, I wish I was more like you.’
‘Me? Brave, that’s a joke.’
‘But you are though, to agree to an unforgivable curse? That’s the bravest thing I’ve ever seen.’
‘I forgive you.’ Dudley knew that Draco needed to hear those words. This at least he could give Draco, because he meant it. The real guilty party was somewhere above their heads. Draco fell from his knees and sat on the ground, like he had just been deflated.
‘Thankyou’ he whispered.
‘You saved me really’ Dudley laughed.
‘I guess I’m your pet project now? You’re going to reveal all my deep dark hidden secrets.’ Dudley desperately tried to inject some humour into his voice.
‘Something like that.’ Draco shrugged.
The initial awkwardness was gone, Dudley didn’t want to dwell on what had happened any longer than they needed to.
Draco left the cell a few hours later, Draco had moved closer, with Dudley’s permission, to check his wounds again. Draco brought them some toast and they had taken a few bites. But Dudley needed proper sleep, he had never felt so exhausted in his life. Dudley was deeply asleep the instant he shut his eyes.
The next morning Draco arrived with a tray of food. Dudley nibbled the edge of a crumpet and timidly ate a couple of grapes, the banging in his head making him queasy.
‘How are you feeling?’ Draco enquired.
‘Like hell.’ It was the truth. Dudley’s head felt like it was three times its usual size.
‘I did some research last night’
‘About the blockage?’
‘No. Unforgivables, I found a spell for advancing Cruciatus recovery.’
‘A spell?’
‘It’s really simple, I promise. I think it would help, your head is splitting isn’t it?’
‘It’s miserable, it’s pounding’
Dudley really didn’t like the idea of a spell being cast on him. Though Draco had apparently cast several while Dudley was unconscious, Dudley had made Draco recount and explain each one thoroughly.
‘You don’t have to let me, just, it might help is all’
Dudley saw the guilt in Draco’s expression. Draco was like a book, Dudley could read every emotion written in his eyes. Maybe he could do this for Draco, if not for himself.
‘You’re sure it’s safe?’
‘Completely, Vinny let me practice on him last night- the recovery spell, not crucio.’
Draco clarified quickly.
‘Okay, if you’re sure. I trust you.’ Dudley said the words and realised they were true.
Draco’s hand tensed at his side and Dudley slowly struggled up to stand next to him, Draco resisted the urge to help, Dudley was close but still out of Draco’s reach. Dudley didn’t want Draco to touch him, he could still feel Lucius all over him.
‘Thankyou’ Draco said the words slowly, his eyes laser focused on Dudley’s.
Draco pulled a wand out from inside his black robes. He held it loosely in his gentle hands and took a steadying breath.
‘sana salutem’
A warmth tingled Dudley’s toes, radiating up his shins, spreading up His body. It was like he was being dipped into a golden light. The heaviness that had been weighing on him lifted. When the warmth reached his head Dudley heard himself audibly sigh, the relentless pounding drum that had been throbbing inside him was gone in an instant. It was euphoric. The high of the spell lasted a few seconds before dimming slightly to a gentle warmth that lingered Dudley’s bones. Dudley’s shoulders relaxed and he sat down again, the relief was immense.
‘Holy shit. Draco that was incredible.’
‘It worked?’
‘Yes. Really fucking well.’
A genuine smile appeared on Draco’s face. It was beautiful, coy and bashful. It was the first smile Dudley had seen Draco give. Dudley liked it.