dudders

George noted the nervous laugh and grinned to defuse the tense. ( it was a long time ago when he’d given dudley that toffee, be he supposed for a kid who’d never had magic in his life it stuck out ) “Guess I should apologize for feeding you a magical candy,” he said. “At the time, I didn’t quite care for you.” He turned to fully face the man next to him and stuck out his hand. “I can honestly say that’s changed though.” Harry had said that Dudley was better than who he was as a child. ( and if harry said it, then it must be true; there’s no way he’d be friends with a bully, especially not one who had tormented him as a child ) So, if Harry was willing to put the past behind him, so was George. “What do you think of the party? And the wizarding world so far. I don’t know how long you’ve been around, but we’ve got some pretty amazing things. My joke shop included.” 

Maybe one day, he would see the funny side of it. But up until his own revelation of being magical, his only experiences had been a pigs tail which he still had a scar from, a toffee which nearly killed him and the dementor attack- anyone else probably would have their own PTSD from it. He perhaps didn’t deserve the dementor thing, he had learnt soon after joining the world that it was a form of punishment and he had come so close to losing his soul. That scared him more than the toffee. “I was a dick, perhaps murder was a bit too far but it was a small wake up call at the time.” he said, with a shrug, pleasantly surprised at the hand proffered to him and he shook it firmly, feeling like one part of his life had now come to a close. And he was looking forward to the next chapter of it. “I thank Stella, she really made me step up. My father is a prick, I don’t want to be the same. And it’s good being here you know? It’s a fresh start and everything is truly amazing. You definitely have it a lot easier, but I’m a long way away from easily using magic- but one day I’ll get there.” he mused, with another laugh. “As one business owner to another, i’d love to visit, I’ll bring Stella, I’m sure she’d love it. At least we’re not rivals!”

George noted the nervous laugh and grinned to defuse the tense. ( it was a long time ago when he’d given dudley that toffee, be he supposed for a kid who’d never had magic in his life it stuck out ) “Guess I should apologize for feeding you a magical candy,” he said. “At the time, I didn’t quite care for you.” He turned to fully face the man next to him and stuck out his hand. “I can honestly say that’s changed though.” Harry had said that Dudley was better than who he was as a child. ( and if harry said it, then it must be true; there’s no way he’d be friends with a bully, especially not one who had tormented him as a child ) So, if Harry was willing to put the past behind him, so was George. “What do you think of the party? And the wizarding world so far. I don’t know how long you’ve been around, but we’ve got some pretty amazing things. My joke shop included.” 

Maybe one day, he would see the funny side of it. But up until his own revelation of being magical, his only experiences had been a pigs tail which he still had a scar from, a toffee which nearly killed him and the dementor attack- anyone else probably would have their own PTSD from it. He perhaps didn’t deserve the dementor thing, he had learnt soon after joining the world that it was a form of punishment and he had come so close to losing his soul. That scared him more than the toffee. “I was a dick, perhaps murder was a bit too far but it was a small wake up call at the time.” he said, with a shrug, pleasantly surprised at the hand proffered to him and he shook it firmly, feeling like one part of his life had now come to a close. And he was looking forward to the next chapter of it. “I thank Stella, she really made me step up. My father is a prick, I don’t want to be the same. And it’s good being here you know? It’s a fresh start and everything is truly amazing. You definitely have it a lot easier, but I’m a long way away from easily using magic- but one day I’ll get there.” he mused, with another laugh. “As one business owner to another, i’d love to visit, I’ll bring Stella, I’m sure she’d love it. At least we’re not rivals!” 

Astoria laughed. Dudley was always so concerned about the people here liking him or if he was doing the right thing when it came to wizarding customs, that she rarely saw him like this. His happy mood was having an affect on her. ( not that she needed it as she was sipping on her second glass of wine ) 

“It’s gorgeous,” she shouted back over the music. “I don’t think I’ve been to a party like this either.” Most of the ‘parties’ she had been to were galas held by her father, and they were never this lively. ( usually it was just older wix sitting around talking and laughing; maybe one person would have too much champange; but the kids were expected to behave and not cause a scene; to dance with other kids their ages so their parents could decide who would be the best match for them ) She shuddered. That was not something she wanted to think about tonight. “We should do this more often. Go out and have fun that is. I don’t think our schedules would permit a party.” 

Getting to enjoy this with Astoria was a good way to know her more outside their confinements of work and sobriety. She of course looked stunning, he almost paled in his own outfit but then, she was a beautiful person and he still wondered just why someone like her was so determined to be his friend and if he were honest, part of his family. But she was right, they should do it more often. 

“It’s such a culture in the muggle world, I’m surprised they allowed something like this. In a way, it’s new to us both but I’m glad I get to share it with you.” he said, raising his glass against hers. “There’s lots of fun things we could do, Stella is getting older, it won’t be too long I can leave her at times with sitters without feeling inherently guilty. Or bring her along. Oooh, we could do a theme park when the weather turns warmer!” he suggested, eyes widening in excitement. He liked having options and chances to do things. “We should do this though, maybe once a month or something.” 

But that meant Dudley could drink and party and he was a little bit familiar with muggle clubs, it was where he had met Steph those years ago. But this one was amazing and it almost felt taboo being in there. He had no inclination for what he assumed were back rooms, instead sticking to rooftop dance floor, beer in hand as he danced with the best of them. He didn’t know the band, but their music was great and the crowd seemed to love them. Maybe they were the wizard version of The Killers or something. Either way, he felt free and it didn’t seem to matter who was who in that moment. “Isn’t this the best?!” he exclaimed to the person next to him. “I cannot remember the last time I was able to party like this. And the view man, just look at the view.” 

Going back from Bulgaria after such a quick trip always made him want to rest for a days, but at least he got to spend Christmas with his parents and see his teammates. The only negative side about this was that, considering he couldn’t cook to save his life, his kitchen was completely empty. Although he would have normally gone for lunch with Draco or Roger, it seemed both of his friends were busy, so Viktor had to leave his warm flat if he wanted to get something to eat.

He hadn’t expected to be short on coins when he tried to pay for his lunch. And his broken English didn’t help, as he couldn’t explain to the barista that he needed to go to Gringotts and come back for his lunch later, getting frustrated because it was clear that they were talking in circles. It was a Christmas miracle when a young man paid for his food, and the barista was finally moving on to the next customer. “Thank you,” he said sincerely. “I will pay you back. I am short on coins. Went on a trip, just came back.”

He waved it off as he pocketed his wallet once more when the food was paid for. “Nah, it’s all chill bro. Season of goodwill and all that.” he said, stepping back a little to let others start placing their orders. He knew he recognised his face from somewhere, maybe a magazine or poster, there was still a lot for him to learn and he had no clue just who he was conversing with. Completely oblivious to the looks they were getting from other wix who passed them. 

“You’ve just come back you said, where did you go? Your accent, I can’t quite place it but definitely Eastern Europe yeah?” he hadn’t met many foreign wizards yet and he was very excited to broaden his knowledge of it all. “Sorry, how rude of me, I’m Dudley by the way.” he added, holding out his hand. 

If he was in the muggle world, he would be labelled one thing and one thing only in his present state. A basic bitch. But there was something about pumpkin spiced lattes in this world which just hit the spot a lot better than the Starbucks ones and he was incredibly happy to watch it be made in front of him as he stood to the side of the coffee cart attached to Eternelles. The outside seating was charmed, the seats warmed and a nice distraction from the winter weather still filling the cobbles of Diagon. As he looked up, he caught one side of a conversation someone was having with a barista and it looked like they were searching for coins. 

“Here, I’ll get it for you.” he offered, removing his wallet and stepping forwards once more, giving them a smile. “Consider it a late Christmas gift.” 

That got a small chuckle out of Colin. His gaze fell to the second pint of beer that sat on the table. He was well aware that it was for him but it didn’t stop from remarking a playful, “Ah, I thought that was for Ms. Stella. Thank you for clarifying.” Colin brought the glass closer to him and after offering Stella one last teasing smile, turned his attention to Dudley. “Thanks, mate. I appreciate it,” Colin said lightly, before taking a small sip of his beer. “Not a problem at all. I’m sure she motivates all of your business deals to go through.”

A laugh escaped him, thinking it was such an English muggle thing to say. Drinking was a culture in the muggle world. He wondered if Colin was also muggleborn. “Maybe give her another year, huh?” he replied, ruffling her hair once more before focusing entirely on Colin. He shook off his thanks, it was customary. “She certainly is a token, all I gotta do is pull the sweet child card and people fold- but I honestly don’t do this a lot so we’ll see if it works on you.” he added taking his own sip of a pint. “I’ll be honest, I’m not too sure where to lead with this but there’s some products here, most of these are long shelf life treats and bottles, more gifting stuff than actual treatments but I’d love to consider maybe a collaboration if you can think of anything?” 

Almost as if she was afraid to break it, Katie gently placed the little figure back down in it’s place. It wasn’t really hers to touch and she was stepping out of line assuming the man behind the counter would be comfortable with her hands all over, what she assumed, to be his personal belongings. Katie offered him a small laugh, “Well, you’re doing a good job on the nostalgia angle because it’s reminding me a lot of my mum and Christmases with her.”

She looked around the shop, again, and took in everything that wasn’t the mixture of muggle and magical decorations. “Speaking of which,” she started, scratching her jaw. “I’m looking for something for an older muggle woman who’s a little skeptical about all this magical shit.”One could hope that her mother would like something in this shop, but it was always a gamble to bring something magical home. Still, Katie still tried. 

“Katie,” she said, holding her hand out to him. “Never Kate.”

“I want people to feel at home, as someone fairly new to this world I wish I could’ve had more familiar reminders of where I’m from. Nothing wrong being muggleborn nor having our own mark on this world- and if I’m completely honest, from one to another, we’re the best anyway.” he said with a shrug and a small laugh. But upon her asking on what he could recommend he clapped his hands together joyfully, stepping closer towards her and taking her hand. “Dudley. Dudley Dursley, nice to meet you Katie.” he shook it warmly, wondering where he recognised her from. A magazine or poster or something, there was just something about her face. 

“And you’re in luck, we have a few items which could work. If she’s like my mum and freaks out by the simplest of magic, then maybe this massage soap bar-” he went to one of the shelves, picking up a package and then a sample piece and turning bakc to her. “-it has six uses, it’s origin is full vegan soap, the grooves here and little bobbles make it an excellent tool for self massage and there’s this neat charm on it, where the scents and use change depending on what the body needs. If she doesn’t have any allergies, it would work well and the best part of it being vegan is that it’s suitable for all skin types and sensitivities.” 

“It’s not too much? I don’t know, it took me six hours to put it together manually because I don’t really know many of those little handy craft charms but I’m glad you like it.” he said, running a hand across the back of his neck awkwardly. 

Into the pub came the opposite end of the business deal - Colin. He was already working off the beige puffer jacket he only chose to wear when it was exceptionally cold outside and Muggles would find him absolutely mad for wearing a wool coat - which he had six of. Dudley wasn’t one of those Muggles, for obvious reasons. Though, a part of his journey every morning was traveling through Muggle London.  Colin looked briefly surprised to see that Dudley Dursley did, in fact, bring his daughter. The surprise faded off his face quick enough and was swiftly replaced with a small smile. He gave both Dudley and his daughter a wave and approached the table.  “So formal,” Colin mused with a light laugh, eyeing the array of products that Dudley had splayed neatly on the bar tabletop. His gaze flickered over to Dudley’s little girl and his smile grew a little more. Colin leaned down slightly, jacket hung over one arm, while the other extended out a hand to the little girl.  “And you must be Dudley’s new business partner,” Colin remarked solemnly, doing his best to keep his expression serious as he keeps his hand extended out to her. “Your name, miss?”  

Dudley looked slightly embarrassed, straightening up in his seat as he cleared his throat some and shot Colin a look of an apology. But it seemed being completely professional was becoming a game, by the way Stella looked up at the stranger like he was the newest toy she was allowed to play with and let out a giggle, looking towards her dad once before looking back to the boy. 

“Stella.” she stated, before giggling once more, taking the offered hand in her small grasp and shaking it as firmly as she could. Which, for her age, wasn’t extremely firm but that’s how she watched Daddy do it. “I’m the cute one.” she added, before dropping his hand and zeroing in on the sundae,  lifting the spoon rather awkwardly and taking a mouthful of the treat. 

“Cute and a menace” uttered Dudley, but still looking at Stella like the proudest man in the world. A blush though was on his cheeks from watching their interaction, wondering if this would work in his favour or not. “I’m sorry, single parent life. Where I go, she goes. I got you a pint, is that okay?”

It hadn’t really passed his mind to stock his items in other shops, he had such a niche business he just didn’t put it out there because he wasn’t sure how he could tailor his business to others, but if there were a way for them to make a collaboration or trade deal, he wasn’t against it. Afterall, the plan was eventually to branch out and maybe making business connections this way would be beneficial. 

It only meant, being a single parent he had to bring his daughter along which he knew wasn’t the best for business talk. But if he gave her ice cream and her latest butterfly book, he might be able to get a good half hour of uninterrupted peace. He’d set up in one of the corners, a small case on the floor beside them and a couple of items already laid out and two pints waiting for Colin to arrive. 

“Dad needs to be a grown up for a little bit, this isn’t like when Aunt ‘Tori or others come to speak with dad, okay? So you just sit there and look cute and let dad work his magic.” he advised, setting the small sundae in front of her and running a hand through her hair. 

“Silly daddy, you- you don’t need to work magic, you are magic.” she replied, letting out a pleased giggle as Dudley rolled his eyes. “You’re such a funny little worm.” he responded, poking his tongue out, forgetting  he was indeed there for a business meeting.