Nineteen Years Later

The train rounded a corner. Harry's hand was still raised in farewell.

"He'll be alright," murmured Ginny.

As Harry looked at her, he lowered his hand absentmindedly and touched the lightning scar on his forehead.

"I know he will."

The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years. All was well.

"When will Daisy come back, Daddy?" Harry turned to see a redheaded girl riding on big burly shoulders waiving at the vanishing puff of smoke from the Hogwart's Express. The father turned away from the station, looking up at the girl. "Christmas Holiday's, Jasmine, Christmas Holidays!"

Harry's breath caught. Before he could stop himself he cried "Dudley?"

The large man's eyes snapped down, as his hands went to lift the girl off his shoulders and set her down. He stared for a moment at Harry's eyes. He glanced up at Harry's forehead as if for confirmation before replying "Harry?"

Moving the little girl's hand to his left, Dudley strode forward, right handed extended.

Harry fought the urge to reach for his wand and returned the gesture. They shook hands, each looking as though the other might turn out to be an illusion.

"Dudley, is it really you? What are you doing here?"

"'Course it's me! Who else would I be? I'm seeing the train off. My Daisy's onboard. Turns out it must skip about some, but seems to run in the family."

"You have kids? And their magical?"

"Yes and no… So far, just the one's magical. This one…" pulling the small girl forward "doesn't seem to be" looking down at the small girl "Jasmine, this is my cousin Harry. I told you about him."

Harry looked stunned. Dudley, here at Station 9 ¾ sending a magical daughter off to Hogwarts and having a non-magical daughter that knows about Harry! It took him a moment to realize the small girl was holding out her hand. Taking it firmly, Harry looked her in the eyes. "It's nice to meet you Jasmine!"

She gave an embarrassed giggle, pulling her hand back. Dudley looked about to bust with pride. Gathering her courage, Jasmine spoke "My sister's a witch! She can do all sorts of amazing things! Gran says she's going to be very powerful."

Harry smiled at the girl then looked back at Dudley. "Gran? Is that Aunt Petunia?"

"Yeah! She would have been here today but Doris, that's the wife, took a spill yesterday and broke her ankle. Mum stayed home to look after her. She'll be sorry she missed seeing you, Harry!"

Harry doubted that. "And, what about your Dad? Uncle Ver.." "Argus!" Dudley interrupted. "My Dad, Argus Vernon"

Leaning forth in a conspiratorial whisper "We had to change it…you know, after what happened with the house and all."

Harry looked confused for a moment then remembered. "That's right. Dedalus told me they fixed you up and got you on your feet again."

"Right they did! Got us all our money, even the accounts at the stores and stuff. They really took care of us."

"Good, that's good…" Ginny tugged at Harry's sleeve reminding him that he had ignored her. "Oh, yes. Ginny, this is my cousin Dudley. You never met him when we were kids."

Ginny was wide eyed as she shook Dudley's extremely large hand. "Hello. I remember my brother's talking about you though. They met you."

Dudley took a moment to remember "Oh, you're a Weasley then? I remember all those red headed boys. They're your brothers?"

"Yup, that's them."

Pulling Lily to the front, Ginny introduced her "This is our youngest, Lily, both her big brothers are on the train".

Dudley smiled at the little girl, then Harry. "After your Mum! That's nice Harry. I like that! Hello, Lily." Dudley didn't try to shake hands, instead, he prodded Jasmine forward "This is my daughter, Jasmine. Looks like you're about the same age. Maybe you can be friends."

The girls looked at each other and giggled making the adults laugh along with them.

"What about your Dad, then, uh…Argus?"

An odd look flashed on Dudley's face. "He passed. Not long after the whole business with the house. Doctors said it was his heart. He never did do any exercise, you know."

"Oh, I'm, um, sorry Dudley, sorry to hear that." Harry said awkwardly.

"Thanks, but I know what he was like, Harry. You wouldn't believe how much Mum's changed since he passed, Harry. She was upset, of course, but it's really been for the best. She smiles all the time now."

Harry's eyebrows shot up. Try as he might, he didn't think he could recall ever having seen Aunt Petunia smile.

Dudley went on "and when things started happening around Daisy. Funny stuff, you know, it was Mum who recognized it. She told Daisy that one day a letter would come inviting her to a school where she would learn to control her magic"

Harry shook his head as if to clear his ears… "Really? Dudley? That just seems to... I don't know, surprising?"

Dudley laughed. "I know! I don't blame you for being surprised. And, she's been very helpful with Jasmine here, making sure she knows that Daisy is just different, not a freak or anything. She says she wants to make sure my girls never lose touch the way she and your Mum did."

"Wow, Dudley! That's amazing. I hardly know what to say."

Dudley laughed more then reached into his pocket. "Here, Harry. Here's my card. Maybe we can get together sometime, okay? And…"

Leaning in with a smile "You better warn your boys to stay away from my Daisy, you hear? She takes after me on one thing: she swings a mean punch!"

Harry looked down at the card which read Dudley Vernon, Personal Trainer and Boxing Coach

Both men laughed.

Ginny coughed.

"Oh, right" said Harry "We'd better be off then. It was amazing to see you Dudley. Um. Give your Mum a hug, huh?"

"Sure will Harry, sure will".