A/N: I haven't updated this fanfic since 2017. I am so sorry! I can't promise a regular updates, but I'm not giving up on this story or any of my stories! Don't worry, I am not dead.

After they ate supper, the Dursley family sat back in their chairs and Ripper went back to his spot on the floor. Dudley grabbed the book from the table.

"Dad," he said, giving the book to him, "you should read the next chapter."

His father grunted. He took the book from Dudley's hand, and Dudley went back to his seat.

Vernon leafed to the next chapter.

Chapter Eleven: Quidditch

"Finally, we get to see how they play Quidditch!" said Dudley excitedly.

Xxx

Oh boy, thought Ripper, Gryffindor against Slytherin? This won't end well.

Marge grinned. "This will be a rough match."

Xxx

"Nobody can keep a secret at that school," Petunia huffed. Keeping secrets was very important to Petunia, especially her own secrets.

"That because everything walks and talks at that stupid school," said Vernon, shaking his head in disgust.

Xxx

"Good," Dudley muttered gleefully, "that'll make Harry too scared nervous to play right."

Hearing him, Ripper glared at Dudley.

Xxx

Although he hated reading, Dudley wouldn't mind reading a wizard's book, especially a book about a magical sport.

Xxx

"How in the world did they manage to vanish and turn up in the desert of all places?" Petunia asked in bewilderment.

Vernon shrugged. "Apparently, the freaks can do anything with their abnormal powers."

"Why are we getting a history lesson about Quidditch, anyway?" Marge asked, annoyed. "I want to see the game, not learn the history about it."

"It is pretty interesting," Dudley admitted.

Marge just rolled her eyes.

Xxx

Harry and Ron will make a bad influence on the girl, Ripper thought in amusement.

Xxx

"Why is Snape limping?" Dudley asked, interested.

"I don't know," his mother answered, frowning. "Maybe he hurt himself somehow." Petunia didn't care about Snape's injury. She wouldn't even care if he died.

Xxx

"Slimy git," said Dudley angrily. "He made the rule up."

Xxx

"Exactly, Harry!"

xxx

"At least having a know-it-all as a friend has its benefits," huffed Marge.

Xxx

"I still can't believe the boy's doing it just for a stupid book," said Vernon, shaking his head. "Don't they have another copy in the library?"

His wife only shrugged. "I don't know. Probably not, I guess."

Xxx

"All three heads?" said Petunia in confusion. Then her eyes went wide in realization. "Snape went to the third floor in the last chapter, remember? And that dog monster is on the third floor."

"You mean to tell me Snape is the criminal?" Vernon looked at his wife in shock.

"The one who let the troll in the school?" Dudley added, just as shocked as his father.

"I KNEW IT!" Marge shouted happily. "HE'S THE BAD GUY!"

Maybe he is the bad guy, Ripper thought. But I'm still suspicious of Quirrell.

Xxx

"Forget the damn book, you idiot!" Dudley shouted. "Just get out of there!"

Xxx

"This is getting better and better every chapter!" said Marge, grinning ear to ear.

Xxx

"Come on, Hermione, the bloke tried to get passed the monster dog," Vernon snapped. "You should know better!"

Perhaps Hermione's right, Ripper thought. But Snape's still a suspect with evidence against him growing. And there's still Quirrell to consider.

Xxx

Petunia can relate to Harry on that one. Her past wasn't easy to forget, especially being forced to look after a nephew who only reminded her of what she couldn't have and what she lost.

Xxx

"Great motivation, Seamus," said Dudley sarcastically.

Xxx

Vernon snorted. Dean the West Ham fan?

Xxx

"They really went all out just to motivate Harry," said Dudley feeling a little jealous. Why did Harry get all the attention, all the fame and glory?

"He doesn't need any motivation," snorted his aunt. "They can motivate him all they want, but that wouldn't make the boy a good player or win the game."

Xxx

Obsessed much, Oliver? Ripper thought in amusement. It's just a game, you know.

Xxx

"Knowing Gryffindor and Slytherin's rivalry, I doubt it'll be a fair game," said Petunia, rolling her eyes.

Marge grinned wickedly. "Good. All the more exciting."

Xxx

Flint having troll blood, Dudley thought, confused and disgusted. Is that even possible? He didn't want to know.

Xxx

"Well, this will be an interesting game," chuckled Dudley. With the Weasleys twins' friend doing the commentary, it was bound to be very amusing, and as much as he disliked the twins for cursing his tongue to grow, he had to admit they were pretty funny.

Xxx

Petunia winced. That person could've gotten a head injury being hit by a ball that size! Quidditch, as exciting as it was, was much too violent for her taste.

Xxx

"Lee's commentary is impressive," said Dudley in amazement. With the way Lee was describing the game, it was like he was there watching with the other wizards and witches.

"Yes, I suppose it is," Vernon reluctantly agreed. While he still didn't like the freaks and their unnatural ways, he had to admit their sport was entertaining.

Xxx

"Wait, why did it suddenly switch point of views?" Marge asked frowning. She wanted to hear more about the game, not what other people were doing.

Petunia shrugged. "Maybe something important is going to happen."

Xxx

"And now we're back to the game," said Marge satisfied.

xxx

Petunia frowned. Why were the Weasleys wearing wristwatches in the game? It'll be distracting to the Seekers.

xxx

"Pucey should've caught the Snitch when he had the chance," said Vernon shaking his head.

"But Vernon, only the Seekers can catch the Snitch," Petunia reminded him.

Vernon simply shrugged.

Xxx

That's cheating! Ripper thought furiously. Flint could've knock Harry off his broom.

"Isn't that against the rules?" Dudley asked in shock. While he did not want to admit it, Dudley was actually rooting for Harry to get the golden ball.

Petunia looked just as surprised as her son. "I don't know. With everything that's happening, it's hard to tell what's against the rules and what isn't."

Vernon and Marge didn't look surprised at all. In fact, they were smirking

"Does it matter if it's against the rules or not?" chuckled Marge. "You have to do what it takes to win."

"Right you are, Marge," Vernon agreed. "You have to do whatever it takes to be on top."

Xxx

Jordan's asking for it, Dudley thought with a smirk on his face.

Xxx

The Dursley family looked at each other in confusion, their eyes asking the same question: Was that supposed to happen?

Xxx

"What's happening to Harry's Nimbus?" asked Dudley fearfully. Why was his cousin always in danger? Can't he play a wizard's game without the fear of dying?

Petunia bit her lip nervously as she tried not to show too much concern for the boy. At first, she thought the broom was simply malfunctioning (if magical brooms could malfunction at all), but she realized a brand new broomstick wouldn't suddenly behave like that. Petunia had a horrible feeling the broom wasn't doing it on its own.

Vernon and Marge shared nasty grins. Looks like Marge will get her wish soon.

Ripper was strangely thoughtful. Why was Harry's new Nimbus Two Thousand suddenly trying to throw him off? Unless - Ripper's eyes widened in horror - someone was interfering with the broomstick!

Xxx

How the hell no one noticed Harry's situation? Dudley thought in amazement.

Xxx

Petunia and Dudley gasped in horror at the image of Harry dangling from a broom with one hand.

Ripper whimpered while Marge and Vernon looked extremely hopeful at the thought of Harry falling.

Xxx

"So, Snape was the one jinxing the boy's broom?" Marge said casually. "Can't say I'm surprised. He hates the kid."

Petunia looked furious. She knew Snape was always rotten at heart, but going so far as to try and kill a boy was horrible even for him.

Vernon noticed his wife's angry expression and frowned. Petunia never told him about a second freak she was apparently connected to. As far as he knew, her only link to magic was her estranged sister. He wanted to ask her more about her past, but he knew she'll get mad at him for prying. I guess I'll never know, Vernon thought with a sigh.

Dudley was surprised to find that he was angry at Snape. Sure, he didn't like Snape because he reminded him of his least favorite teacher at Smeltings, Professor Davis, but at least Davis never attempted to kill a student!

Ripper growled. How dare that greasy-haired man try to harm Harry!

Xxx

"Wasn't someone supposed to carry a mattress on the field in case Harry fell?" Marge muttered dryly.

Xxx

Ripper's ears perked up. Why did the book mention Hermione knocking Quirrell down? Was that supposed to be important? He stored the detail in his brain as his suspicions of Quirrell grew.

Xxx

Vernon looked dumbfounded. "I can't believe Hermione set a teacher on fire."

Petunia and Dudley nodded in agreement.

Marge just sighed in disappointment. She really wanted Harry to fall.

Xxx

"He caught the Snitch in his mouth?" said Dudley impressed. "Even after what happened with his broom?"

"I guess the Snitch flew into his mouth somehow," Petunia guessed, but even she was amazed by the feat.

"Then that means Gryffindor won," said Vernon sadly. He wanted the Slytherins to win; they sounded like a decent lot to him.

Marge huffed in annoyance while Ripper wagged his tail in delight over Gryffindor's victory.

Xxx

Snape loathes Harry, Hagrid, Ripper thought. He does have a motive to kill Harry. But would Snape kill a student because he hated them? Ripper began to doubt that; he sided with Hagrid on that one.

Xxx

Marge gawked at the book. "He actually named that three-headed monster? And it's Fluffy?"

"I wonder why he named a normal dog Fang and a monster dog Fluffy," Dudley wondered.

Petuna shrugged. "It seems like Hagrid isn't normal even by wizarding standards."

"None of them are normal, Petunia," said Vernon in disgust.

Xxx

Ripper wondered what's so special about whatever item Fluffy was guarding. How powerful is it to warrant such protection?

Dudley wondered the same thing. The mystery was exciting.

xxx

"I'm done," grunted Vernon, throwing the book down on the table.

Petunia got up from her chair and yawned. "I think it's time we rest. We need our sleep despite our predicament."

Marge nodded in agreement. "I'm getting tired myself. Come, Ripper, off to bed!" She got up and walked up the stairs to the guest bedroom with Ripper in tow.

"But Mum," Dudley whined, "the mystery's just getting started! I want to know who Nicolas Flamel is!"

Petunia sighed and said in a soothing voice, "Sweetums, you have to rest. We can't read the book all day. We've read enough chapters for tonight."

Dudley opened his mouth to protest, but instead of words, a yawn escaped his mouth. And with that, he gave up and walked upstairs to his room. His parents soon followed.