On the way
Dudley did his best to listen in on Daedalus Diggle and Hestia Jones as they chatted away occasionally throwing a glare at his family. Around the start of their journey an hour or so ago, Daedalus had tried to talk to Vernon Dursley but soon learned that it was not a good idea.
Surprisingly, Dudley did learn somewhat about his cousin since she was all the two talked about alongside weird names like ‘Weasley’, ‘fleur’, ‘black’, ‘Dumbledore’ and so on that Dudley did not recognize.
He also noted that they mentioned the name Malfoy a couple of times and despite knowing that he should not when his father was around, he let his curiosity get the better of him. “Malfoy? I heard her say that name before.”
Daedalus looked shocked upon being addressed by the youngest Dursley after his father’s rudeness while Hestia threw him suspicious looks before the two exchanged glances. Apparently, it was decided in the unspoken exchange that Hestia would answer his question (which was probably a good idea since the middle-aged witch had managed to instill fear in Vernon Dursley after he was rude to Daedalus with a simple mimblewimble), “Malfoys are a well-known family in you-know-who’s inner circle.”
“Are you saying the girl was involved with someone whose family supported the man that killed her parents?” , Petunia did not mean for anyone to hear her but the silence that followed had made it possible.
“Involved?”, Daedalus shared shocked looks with Hestia Jones. “Surely not! The young Heir Malfoy did go to school in the same year as Lady Peverell and it was well known that they along with Heir Nott and Heiress-sorry Lady Bones were the best students but involved? You must’ve been mistaken”.
Dudley was surprised. His cousin-he assumed she was Lady Peverell whatever that meant since he heard them refer to her as such earlier in the day too, he made a note to ask about it later- was the top of the class? And her apparent relationship with Draconis Malfoy if he wasn't mistaken was also a secret? He needed to cover up fast in case his father decided to reveal it. “We assumed they were since he was the only one I kept hearing her mention often.”
Hestia exchanged suspicious glances once more with Daedalus before glaring at Petunia for suggesting it perhaps. And then at Vernon when he dared to open his mouth.
Dudley spent the rest of the ride in awkward silence as the magical ones chatted away while trying to remember all the information he got so far.
His cousin was well-known. She was called Lady Peverell. She was romantically involved with Draconis Malfoy but in secret. Malfoy was a well-known supporter of the man that is after his cousin’s life. They never call him by his name. And there was some secret order? They were also getting refuge with other kids or families who have muggle relations since they were being hunted(?) the last part horrified him. But he was glad he would get to talk to others who probably went to school with his cousin and would’ve known her.
About another half an hour later they reached the middle of nowhere and Daedalus asked for the Dursleys to get down.
“AND LEAVE OUR CAR HERE?”, Vernon bellowed.
Daedalus tried to reassure, “Worry not, Mr. Dursley. The car will be sent back safely to your house”.
“Um, I can't see any safe houses here…”, Dudley pointed out before his father could argue further.
Hestia responded after elegantly smoothing her dress as she stood up, “It is here but under a special spell to hide it from the unwelcome”.
“How will we get in then?”, Petunia asked shrilly as she looked around in distaste.
“Fidelius Charm is such that only the secret keeper may tell the location”, Hestia explained further and passed them a note written in perfect penmanship ‘Bones Winter Manor’. “I got Lady Peverell to write this earlier”.
Dudley was confused. He read the piece of paper and looked up to the most expensive, beautiful and enchanting manor Dudley had ever seen. He did not need to look at his parents to see that his father was staring in greed and anger while his mother was just plain surprised to see something so out of their status quo.
“Lady Bones has been gracious enough to offer her family’s old unused Manors for safehouses, I hope you will behave”. He heard the warning distantly as the two magical adults went up to the door.