The fear, the anxiety, and the anger were off the charts. Draco Malfoy refused to smile or talk with anyone. Every word that came out of his mouth was a curse or a snarl directed at his friends and foes alike.

  Left alone for the most part, he struggled to move his hand and write a letter to tell his father about his loss. He knew how rge of an amount the 100,000 Gold Galleon was, and how devastating it was to lose it. He knew that eventually he'd be asked to earn it back.

  Father, I was duped. Potter used underhanded tricks to w—

  Quickly, he crumpled the paper and threw it away. He realized how petty he sounded, trying to bme his loss on another. He simply couldn't bme Dudley for cheating since Dudley wasn't even pying in the match.

  The fear ate him slowly. It'd been three days already and he wanted to inform his father before he'd find out about his loss from somewhere else.

  Father, Slytherin lost to Gryffindor in the Quidditch Cup this year. I'm afraid I will have to honor the bet I made with Dudley. For this, I request your help, but I assure you that I will pay it all back to you once I finish Hogwarts and start working…

  In the end, he chose to keep it all simple and to the point. No matter what, he'd eventually have to pay it back to his father.

  However, that didn't mean his hatred for Dudley disappeared. Rather, he began hating the mudblood more than anything. Harry became secondary since the 'Boy Who Lived' had done nothing directly against him.

  "I will make you beg for my forgiveness, Dudley. Just wait and watch!"

  ####

  "Ugh, my ear feels itchy." Dudley annoyedly scratched his ear. "Probably Draco trash-talking."

  "Heh, who else could it be?" Penelope Clearwater chuckled, sitting side by side with Dudley in the Library. A little too close in fact, as their chairs were practically stuck together, the same for their bodies. But she didn't mind.

  Dudley shrugged and focused on the book. "Alright, Penny, here's the basics of how we'll run things. D&D Capital's magical side is all about the long game. We gotta fatten ourselves up and own whatever we can. The more businesses we have, the stronger our foundation will be, making us a powerful force no one can ignore. Eventually, all those businesses will help support my bank."

  "Hmm." Penny hummed and suddenly, her soft, slender hand slipped over to Dudley's p, on his right thigh. "Are you really going to challenge the Goblins?"

  Interesting… Dudley was surprised by her sudden show of intimacy. Let's test it.

  Yawning, Dudley raised his arms high and then wrapped his right arm around her shoulder. Although she was four years older than him, he rather liked that fact about her.

  No reaction? Strange. What changed?

  "Well, I've got all the backing I need from the Muggle economy to see my pns through," Dudley revealed and felt her hand softly caress his p, still away from his crotch. "Why? Nervous?"

  Penelope pursed her lips and just hummed in response. "I… It's going to be my first job and it sounds too… grand? I don't know if I can do it as well as you want me to."

  "Come on." Dudley pulled his arm back from her shoulder and gently gripped the hand she'd pced on his p. Instead of just holding it, he intertwined his fingers with hers, his grip warm and comforting. Looking at her gorgeous, round face, he gave her a small, reassuring smile. "You've got me full-time now. Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it bit by bit."

  Penelope giggled softly, leaning closer until her face was just near his. She pressed a delicate kiss to his cheek, though it nded dangerously close to his lips. Her shyness and fluster were clear, but her extra four years on Dudley seemed to grant her a touch more boldness.

  "You're the best thing to ever happen to me, Dudley. I can focus on my NEWTs without worry. I won't let you down, I promise."

  Letting me down? Girl, you've made me rise right now.

  Dudley smiled and squeezed her hand tighter. He controlled his masculine urges and decided to finish the quick study session. He had no doubts though, Penelope was hinting at more than just workpce retionships.

  Finally, making a daring move, he released her hand and caressed her thigh in response, and he truly did caress it. Rubbing over her bck Hogwarts skirt, feeling the soft flesh of those long legs. He looked into her blue eyes the entire time.

  "Come on, we should get going. Our friends are probably waiting for us in the Great Hall," Dudley said and pushed his chair back, stopping all intimacy and standing up. He helped her gather the books and walked out with her. "Oh, by the way, any idea what I should do about your boyfriend? He asked about a job too."

  Penelope scoffed in displeasure. "We're not dating anymore."

  I guessed as much.

  "Well, I won't ask for details. It's not really my pce. I was considering sending him to the States. Let him try his hand at the American branch of my bank." Dudley revealed his pn, she being the first one to know about it. "At the end of the day, he is a talented wizard."

  "That is true. I don't have anything to oppose, Dudley. The States is pretty far away. Besides, he's far too focused on his career and studies to care about anything else."

  Ah, I can sense some bitterness.

  Eventually, they arrived at the Great Hall for dinner. Dudley headed to the Hufflepuff table and Penelope went to the Ravencw. She was the envy of most seventh-years already, considered the most successful of her year as she had a job before even taking the exam, and the job paid too well.

  Back at Hufflepuff's table, Susan elbowed him, winking.

  "Nothing happened. I just taught her how to manage the business," Dudley crified and rexed with his best friends, also part-time lovers. "How did your extra css go? Had fun getting scolded by Professor McGonagall?"

  "I hate her," Susan sneered and crossed her arms, jutting out those magnificent melons. "But I think I'll pass the exams."

  Dudley ughed and looked to his right at Hannah, sitting there in summer clothes, meaning nothing under the skirt but her smooth and fleshy legs. He caressed her right away, sliding his warm hand underneath her skirt and feeling the softness. "I guess my Hannah will once again win the bet and score the most."

  Hannah shyly smiled and slid forward until her belly pressed on the table's edge so his hand could stay hidden. But then she spread her legs a little and let Dudley feel the oozing warmth of her core as his palm caressed near the junction of her thighs. "I think I'll do better than Susan. But I can't compete with you, Dudley."

  "Umhmm…" Dudley's fingers scraped her covered cave of wonders. He had yet to explore it, but teasing Hannah was his favorite thing to do. Seeing her shy face was always a joy. "By the way, Hannah, are you free this summer? I'm heading to South Korea for some work. Thought it might be nice if you came along."

  "Really?" Hannah's face lit up. "I'd love to, Dudley."

  Dudley pressed his thumb on the noticeable crevice formed on her panties, right between her pussy lips. "That settles it then."

  "Hey, what about me?" Susan compined from his left, taking advantage of Dudley's distraction to shamelessly grip his hardened shaft under the table. "I thought we were best friends."

  "We are." Dudley stopped pying with Hannah, his attention now on the teachers taking their seats. "But will your Aunt even let you come? I've met Hannah's parents, and they won't mind. But your Aunt... she's strict. I doubt she'd let you travel across Europe, never mind East Asia."

  Susan puffed her cheeks in annoyance and squeezed him hard enough to feel his throbs. "I'll get my Aunt to agree, don't worry."

  "How about this, Susan? When I get back with Hannah, we three can spend a week in France. I'm sure you'd have no trouble coming over—after all, the Ministry has a good retionship with the French side, doesn't it?"

  Especially with the next year's Triwizard tournament pnned.

  "Oh? I can do that," Susan blurted and suddenly pressed her thumb over his cockhead. Her hand was too trained. She leaned in with a mischievous glint in her eye and whispered, "What, craving to try a sandwich?"

  Dudley coughed and pushed her hand away. He knew what she meant by sandwich. It also made it clear that Susan had no desire to join him and Hannah in Korea. She knew he'd explore Hannah during that trip.

  But in France, what would the three of them do?

  What a girl.

  "Let's do that then." Dudley finalized the pn and focused on his food.

  ####

  The next day, once the st css was over, Dudley found a quiet, empty cssroom and sat down to write a letter. There weren't many words, just a date and time, with a simple warning added next to it.

  Dudley had come to realize that he had changed so many things that he needed to push some cogs to make the wheel turn. He didn't want to get deeply involved, but he figured that pulling a few strings from the background was easier than leaving everything up to fate.

  You don't know me. I don't know you. Do as I have written and you will get what you seek. Do not disappoint me again.

  With that, he fetched an owl from the owlery and sent the letter to Lily J. Potter. He didn't use his personal owl for the same reason, wanting to stay anonymous.

  All that's left now is to wait. Dudley muttered and returned to the school building. With hours at his disposal, he went to see Professor Septima Vector since he desperately wanted her research to succeed and help him improve his own spell-based magic.

  Knock! Knock!

  Dudley pushed open the door and peeked inside. "Professor?"

  "Ah, come in quickly, Mr. Dursley," Septima Vector said, gncing up from her desk with a small wave of her hand. "Assist me with this equation. As per your suggestion, I've started looking into Muggle mathematics, but it's still rather beyond my grasp."

  Dudley strolled inside, gncing around to see if there was anyone else in the cssroom. He then focused on the woman he'd crossed the line with. She seemed to love red robes as she wore the same, with a matching pointed hat. Raven hair cascaded over her voluptuous chest, her face aged yet retained the lure.

  "Which equation, Professor?" Dudley stood beside her chair and looked down at the table. He received the notebook from her and studied silently. "A mix of multivariable integration and arithmancy? This one's going to be tough, Professor."

  "Can you do it? It's important to assess the wand movements for spellcasting," Professor Vector asked seriously, and at the same time got off her chair.

  "I think I can. I know a few methods to solve it, but it'll take a little time," Dudley replied, completely focused on the problem.

  Woosh!

  Dudley heard an unnatural rustle of clothes rubbing and looked to his right where Septima stood. He froze for a moment, not expecting such straightforwardness.

  "Like our previous deal, I suppose I can make this worthwhile."

  Septima stood there, all her red robes and clothes pooled around her feet. She pushed her raven hair aside to reveal her rge magnificent breasts, naked as well. She was almost completely bare, except for her pointed hat and footwear.

  Septima pursed her lips a little as she felt his gaze on her body. She shyly rubbed her legs together but still looked proud and unwavering. The woman, who for the past few years had been dealing with mostly crusty old men, could feel the young man's lustful heat.

  Dudley couldn't take his eyes off her plump, curvy figure. Imagining her soft squishy thighs feeling amazing, squished under his broad hands. Her big breasts still had that immacute shape, with rosy brown rge nipples; causing him to crave some nectar right at this moment. His hands were already itching to touch her in all the right pces.

  Dudley gulped, absolutely worshiping the ripe body in front of him. Wasn't this one of the reasons why he wanted to experience Hogwarts? To get close to these amazing witches. Heck, he hadn't even pnned anything for the teachers yet here he was, so blessed.

  "I…" Dudley showed hesitation. "I don't want to be distracted, Professor."

  "Very well. Let's do this then."

  Septima moved all the stuff on the table to the side, then grabbed the notebook. She then id down on her back, half her jiggling ass dangling from the table's edge. Her knees were folded, and her smooth legs spread, easily revealing her wet and hungry lower lips for Dudley to see. A small patch of raven hair decorated above her long slit, so hot and inviting.

  Then Dudley's eyes widened when he saw her pce the notebook on her soft belly, almost like one of those body sushi girls that he had been entertained with at a "business dinner" in his previous life.

  "I believe this will be less distracting?"

  Less distracting? Fuck no, but I don't really care at this point.

  "I think so, Professor."

  Dudley unbuttoned his pants and pushed them down to his knees along with his underwear. Not wasting a single moment, he stepped up between her spread legs, his cock already at full mast, heavy and thick with veins throbbing out of craving need. Using his hands to aim his bulging shaft, he first brushed his cockhead along her slit. He felt it start to salivate on his swollen head, staining his length with her juices as it trickled down little by little.

  He looked at her face and noticed the blush, her pink tongue slowly licking her lips in expectation. Her gulps were visible as dark eyes focused on him with a look of expectation.

  His gaze trailed down her slender neck, admiring her voluptuous breasts. He reached out his other hand and shamelessly groped one while still teasing her pussy. He pinched her rge nipples hard, tugging at them and letting them dance between his wiggling and twisting fingers. He could feel her nipples were sensitive to his touch, and matched by a near-constant twitching between her legs.

  "Oh, I hope you don't mind, Professor."

  "Not at all, Mr. Dursley. This is the least I can do for… troubling you." How could she deny when a young, handsome man like him showed interest in her femininity? She felt young and desired again because of him.

  Hah, why even say these excuses anymore, Professor? You just wanted me inside, right?

  Dudley had no delusions. The little 'making time worthwhile' excuse was something that worked well in porn, but not in real life.

  No, this was simply an excuse to get fucked.

  Dudley slowly slid his rock-hard cock in, letting the head part her sensitive petals. He hadn't given her any warning and gently moved down, letting her warm, wet hole tighten and squeeze instantly around him. He was almost sure that she hadn't had a man in a long time, tight and gripping, as if her pussy wanted to milk him out in the first push. It all felt so divine, almost causing him to want to stay there like that forever.

  Septima's eyes rolled back and she suddenly let out a long moan; her voice filling the room lewdly, speared in by his rge shaft. Her insides strained as they spread wide, giving his cock a tight, squeezing path. Her most sensitive spot teased as she felt his girthy length brush against it while he moved further in. Her body quivered in excitement, forcing her to moan and whimper as her body trembled.

  Dudley slowly glided in and felt her inner walls too tight. He pulled back at that moment, giving her some time to breathe. It took a moment for her pussy to aid him more with its juices before going back in. He repeated it, over and over, until he could go hilt deep.

  To be honest, he felt it was quite an achievement in itself for Septima, as he was quite girthy and long. But it also meant that he could fuck her as deep as he wanted, as hard as he wanted without hurting her. The thought aroused him even more, his cock twitching at the idea.

  Feeling completely surrounded by her silky walls, Dudley finally turned open the notebook still resting on her belly. "I'll start working on the problem then."

  "Take… uh… your time."

  He wanted to focus but with his big cock stretching her insides tight, he could feel every bit of movement her muscles made, twitching and throbbing against his cock as his hips moved slowly.

  To Septima, his slow thrust made it even more agonizingly pleasurable. His deep plunges pushed against the mouth of her cervix, going even deeper. Her womb screaming at her to make it stop, gripping around his cock like no tomorrow. But her arousal demanded more, rough and deep. Desperation took over her while she craved being fucked like an animal in heat.

  "Ummm… Yes… That's it."

  At times Dudley pyed with her breasts too while writing in the notebook, flicking on her nipples like a sinful fidget toy. His fucking thrusts were sometimes fast and sometimes slow, relishing the squirms she made at his random pace. At times he would suddenly plunge deep and hard, watching her breasts jiggle from the collision of their flesh, and smirk.

  "Ooh... Marlin!" Septima moaned and bit her lips, trying hard not to be too loud. She loved the sensation of his big, fat cock buried deep inside her. It made her feel full, and complete, like nothing else mattered but the pleasure coursing through her veins.

  "Hmm… Fubini's theorem won't work." Dudley murmured and stopped writing for a moment. "I need to think."

  He pced the quill on the side and leaned forward on her belly, keeping the notebook still pressed between their bodies. He felt the warmth of her body pster onto his skin, so soft and getinous just as they looked.

  Both of Dudley's hands cupped her swaying swells, fondling and massaging as his fingers sunk into her soft flesh. He pinched and pulled, roughly groping all over as he left red fingerprints on her smooth bosom. He leaned a bit lower, capturing her dark nipple with his mouth, suckling and biting her, leaving faint teeth marks.

  He had already seen the signs. His professor wanted to get fucked, so he pnned to do just that.

  Standing at the edge, her legs spread wide, his hips started to plow into her without a care, thrusting even faster than before. Her insides felt hot and scorching, pulsating around his relentless cock as it drowned him in bliss.

  Watching her thighs, her breasts, and her flesh jiggle in waves sent a shock of stimution in him. She was not refined like Susan, Padma, or other girls, but her charm was unique on its own. Making a mature woman writhe and moan like that felt accomplished to his mind.

  He grabbed her breasts harder, tugging them down to pull her whole body onto his cock, plunging in as deep as he could. His cock kept moving like a piston, even the table under them began to sway.

  "Ahhh!" Septima cried out uncontrolbly. "Aaaaaah… Ooooh, Merlin! Yes–ss… I'm gd. I could… make it… worth–while…"

  Dudley was only too happy to help, and he pounded into her squelching pussy with long, deep strokes, each one sending waves of pleasure crashing through her body. He felt her wet walls contract around him, milking him for every st drop of pleasure.

  Septima's muscles knotted up uncontrolbly, her body trembling as her pussy clenched hard around his plowing cock. She felt the pressure building up as his cock kept nudging her in the right pce.

  "Ahhhhh!!" Septima screamed, her voice filled with pure, unadulterated pleasure as she came.

  Dudley slowed his pace, coming to a complete stop when he felt her flooding nectar start to flow onto his base. He stood back up between her legs and started to write again. Even with a little sweat rolling down his temples he needed to finish his actual task.

  He kept a slow and steady pace with his hips, but his mind wandered elsewhere.

  For about an hour, he fucked her like that in that position, taking breaks to pound her hard and make her climax. On and off, he kept the game going and her juices flowing.

  By the time an hour came to pass, he had turned her pussy swollen red. Her breasts blushed pale red from his mouth's attention and hand's rough handling.

  "Got it!"

  Dudley suddenly closed the notebook and put it away. He pulled his cock out of her sore pussy and climbed onto the table. He y down right beside her, his cock still standing upright, ready to reach that light at the end of the tunnel.

  "I'm tired, Professor. Can you… get on top?"

  Septima bit her lips a little, feeling a little hesitant. She loved the way he fucked her. She slowly sat up and looked down at her body, her breasts red, pussy feeling a little disappointed at the emptiness.

  "Have you finished the problem?"

  "I have, Professor."

  She then climbed on top of Dudley's burly form, positioning her flushed pussy right above his rigid pole. She looked down and saw her pussy gently swallow his cock whole as she impaled herself upon him.

  "Ooohhhhhh….You are… So talented! Oooh, mm… The best student… in my career… Mr. Dursley… Ummm…" She moaned at the top of her lungs, feeling the stretch she wanted once more. She loved the feeling of how deep he went with her on top, her weight pressing down on his cock entirely.

  Dudley suddenly gripped her magnificent breasts once more and pulled her down. His cock smmed deep and her lush tits smothered his face. He licked them all over, suckling at both her nipples as his hands smushed them together. He nibbled them as he pleased, and smashed his own face between the heavenly swells; All the while Septima rode him back and forth.

  The way she moved her hips expertly, twisting his cock inside and churning as he plowed almost made him go crazy. He was almost certain that his cockhead had touched every inch of her cave of wonders.

  "Ahhh…. yesss!" Septima moaned loudly, throwing her head back in pleasure. On the brink of ecstasy, her stretched walls felt too sensitive after coming over and over before.

  This time her body tensed as her toes curled, then her nectar flowed freely, covering Dudley's cock with her sticky juices. Her body convulsed with pleasure as she reached her orgasm, stiffening on his skewer-like shaft as her pussy throbbed around him.

  Dudley didn't wait for her completion. He raised his torso a little and grabbed her hips, then smmed her down harder, faster, bouncing her up and down on his cock like a ragdoll. He could feel her walls tightening around him like a vice, while the table under them violently shook and creaked.

  Professor Vector hugged his head between her breasts while trying to aid him as she pivoted on her knees. She felt his utterly throbbing cock strain inside her tight walls, ramming in and out without mercy.

  "Ghk…" Dudley groaned, feeling his orgasm pressuring him to let go.

  After a few more thrusts, Dudley felt the tingling in his core, something rising fast.

  "Agh…!" He gushed out a fat load, coating her insides and drowning himself in those tight walls. He kept plowing, however, his hip thrusts lunging deep.

  Dudley kept going, driving deeper and deeper into Spetima's pussy, making her scream and writhe in pleasure. Mixed with her juices inside, her pussy was filled to the brim, well-lubed for a burst of rough pumping.

  "Ummm…oh, oh, ooooh… Merlin! Oh!"

  He kept fucking until a creamy froth seeped out between their flesh, making a mess all over her pussy, her bush, his balls, and the table. Eventually, he felt his flexing hardness slowly calm down.

  Septima panted as her sweat-covered body fell on his chest, taking deep gulping breaths as she rexed for a few moments. She tried hard to catch her breath in silence, not wanting to make it unbecoming for her by looking straight at his face.

  However, she rather liked how Dudley confidently hugged her body on himself, his hands taking the liberty to caress her naked rump and to her own embarrassment, his fingers came too close to her other entrance too often.

  "Mmm…" Finally, she got off and stood up beside the table. Saw saw his virile cream trickle down her thighs, rolling down her smooth skin. Her pussy felt so full and sensitive, so watery and creamy.

  Noticing his keen gaze on her made her feel like a shy schoolgirl again.

  Dudley watched as she stood there, cleaning her body with a piece of cloth that looked like a towel.

  So it was all pnned? I'm not compining.

  He also received a towel to clean himself from her and wore his pants after cleaning up the messy, sticky remnants of their fucking.

  "When do you think the research will be finished, Professor? I'm sure it could help me improve my charms and transfiguration scores," Dudley asked, still a little short on breath but now focused on the problem he had solved.

  However, when he noticed her having trouble tying her robe from the back, he lent a hand without her asking as if it was all natural. Then, he stood side by side with Septima and went through the equation.

  A little ashamed of her actions and her clearly evident desire and pre-pnning, Septima acted as if nothing had happened between them. Serious and stern, she talked like he was an ordinary student and not someone who had just filled her petals to the brim.

  "Mr. Dursley, I shall be submitting it over the summer. Provided all goes as pnned, you will be the first to test it in your fourth year."

  "I can't wait to try it."

  Ignoring the musky scent of sex still lingering in the cssroom, Professor Vector warmly smiled and finished reading the solved equation. "I'm gd you're as interested in this as I am."

  Why not? I'm getting so many incentives.

  "By the way, Professor. I'm not sure if you've heard, but I'm opening a new bank. I was wondering if you'd be interested in helping with some anti-theft and anti-cheating mechanisms," Dudley asked out of nowhere. It was a sudden fsh of inspiration. "It can be like a side-project for you. I do need all the help I can get."

  Septima hummed thoughtfully, tapping her quill against her desk. "Sounds rather challenging. I'd be most delighted to assist, Mr. Dursley."

  "Great! I'll see you ter then, Professor. I should head back and get started on the equations."

  Dudley excitedly turned towards her and unashamedly hugged her. It was no ordinary hug, however, but a rather intimate one as his arms wrapped around her waist. But as soon as he felt her responding positively, his spread palms slid down to capture her amazing, rge asscheeks, revealing his desire to py with them the next time.

  No shame in making it a common exchange, I guess.

  "If you need any more help with the equations, just let me know, Professor. I really enjoy doing them with you."

  Hah! Who'd have guessed making your Professor blush would be this exciting?

  Seeing her flustered, Dudley stepped away and finally left the cssroom for good.

  Yet again, in Hogwarts, it was a good day.

  ####

  Before long, June started and with that arrived the third year exams. Dudley felt highly prepared and looked forward to the Transfiguration and Charms exams. Although he didn't remember specifically what was going to be asked in the exam, he felt confident.

  "Mr. Dursley, you are needed in the Headmaster's office."

  Dudley heard Argus Filch and looked. The famed squib of Hogwarts. It wasn't easy dealing with the foul-tempered man, but where everything fails, money succeeds. Dudley knew what someone like Filch desired.

  Respect, fame, and magic. None of those were possible for the man. But money was one of the hidden aspects of life that could give a man the illusion that they are respected and that they have worth.

  So, once Dudley became famous as a rich man in Hogwarts, he directly offered Filch financial aid. The man refused at first but eventually gave in to money. They always do.

  In two years Dudley had become one of the few people in school that Argus Filch truly liked. It was one of the connections Dudley pnned to make use of ter. After all, the fourth year was coming and there were going to be a lot of beauties to show around the castle.

  Slightly annoyed since it was the day of his first exam, Dudley relented and left the Great Hall. Walking the known hallways, he soon arrived at the Headmaster's office, its entrance already made accessible to him.

  He climbed the spiral staircase and knocked on the already open door.

  "Professor?"

  "Ah, do come in, Mr. Dursley," Dumbledore said serenely, his eyes twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles. "This shall not take long. Mr. Malfoy here requested a brief word with you."

  Dudley walked inside the room and surveyed. There, to the right, stood Lucius Malfoy in his usual haughty manner. Chin raised high, cane in hand, and regally dressed.

  "Mr. Malfoy?"

  Lucius stepped forward and pced a bank transfer note on the table. "As per the wager you made with my son, the amount has been settled. This should suffice to conclude the matter."

  Amused, Dudley walked over and grabbed the note. It had a Gringotts stamp and the details about the transfer of 100,000 Gold Galleons from the Malfoy vault to his vault. Furthermore, there was Lucius' signature and another pce left bnk for him.

  Wasting no time, Dudley grabbed a quill and signed his name as well. "Thank you for keeping your word, Mr. Malfoy. I agree, it may have been a childish bet, but a promise is a promise, and it's good to see it honored."

  Lucius merely hummed and nodded before looking back at Dumbledore. "I shall take my leave."

  Seeing the blonde man leaving, Dudley shamelessly raised his voice. "I'm still waiting for a response, Mr. Malfoy."

  "You'll have it soon." The man replied without looking back and just left.

  Dudley sighed and turned towards the old Headmaster. "Is he angry? I thought the Malfoys were filthy rich."

  "A hundred thousand is still a significant sum, Mr. Dursley. The Hogwarts Investment Fund, entrusted to your care, amounts to only three hundred thousand—crafted through the colboration of many wizards. While it may seem modest to you, to most witches and wizards, it represents the fortune of several lifetimes," Dumbledore advised him like a wise senior. "To Lucius, money and pride are the same. You put a dent in his money and that has also injured his pride."

  "That's too bad. I hope he can still think clearly and invest in the Bank," Dudley muttered and tried to stop himself from yawning.

  "Burning the midnight oil for your exams, I see?" Dumbledore inquired.

  "Had to, Professor. Can't just do well in a few subjects and let the others slip, can I? Oh, I'd better get going—it's the Transfiguration exam first. Not exactly my best, that one."

  Dudley wasted no time and bolted out of Dumbledore's office. He really ran, wanting to practice his Transfigurations again to not embarrass himself during the exam.

  Woosh!

  He turned a corner and slid to a halt to avoid bumping into the Ravencw's princess. "Luna?"

  "Hey, Dudley." Luna waved, a slim smile pstered on her face. Her naturally protuberant eyes made her look surprised, though she always looked surprised.

  Dudley paused for a moment to chat with her. "Hey, what are you doing here? Don't you have your Potions exam today?"

  "I forgot to bring ink."

  "You forgot? Luna, did someone take your ink pot?" Dudley asked, his tone softer than usual. Ever since he'd subtly made it known to Cho and Padma that he cared about Luna, the girl had been treated with unexpected kindness by all the Ravencw girls. In fact, Luna had earned a new nickname—Ravencw's princess.

  Luna shook her head strongly, her waist-length hair also swinging with it. "It's in my table drawer, Dudley. Nobody hides my things anymore."

  That's great to hear.

  "Well, I'll be on my way the—"

  "Dudley, about my Father." Luna stopped him from leaving, her small fingers pinching his dark robes. "He wants to meet you this summer, to talk about the, uh, terms of investment... I think he said that?"

  Dudley scratched his head and remembered his promise. "Oh, right. Don't worry, I'll come by this summer. Just have some tea ready, maybe a pizza, a virgin's sacrifice, and majority ownership of the Quibbler, that's all I need."

  "Virgin's sac—"

  Seeing Luna's face turned sideways in seriousness, Dudley realized she hadn't taken his words as a joke. "It was a joke, Luna. I'll meet with your father and sort everything out, don't worry. But I really need to get going now."

  "Okay, see you ter, Dudley!" Luna chirped and waved her hand brightly.

  Dudley bolted back to the Great Hall and sat down with his friends to finish st-minute studies. An hour ter, the entire Great Hall was turned into a massive exam hall with benches equally distant.

  The first written exam was Transfiguration. The practical was next, where they had to turn a teapot into a tortoise. To his relief, he succeeded, even if the turtle did have a few silver nails. Still, he passed, and that was what mattered most.

  The Charms exam came after that. The written part was easy enough, but the practical was a little trickier. They were to cast a Cheering Charm. Dudley did it on his second attempt and passed.

  Just like that, the first day of exams came to an end, and Dudley felt a weight lift off his shoulders. The subjects had been quite difficult for him, but he had managed.

  The next day, the Care of Magical Creatures exam went by with ease. In the afternoon, Potions was no challenge at all. Later that night, Astronomy proved no trouble either, especially since he could apply his knowledge of Arithmancy to it. On the third day, History of Magic, Herbology, and his elective subject of Arithmancy passed without much difficulty either.

  Just like that, on the st day of the exams, and also the D-day for the year-long mess, Dudley took the somewhat difficult DADA exam and passed. That marked the end of his third year, though rexation still seemed far off. Susan and Hannah had taken Divination alongside the Gryffindor trio, and he still had to wait for their exam to finish.

  While waiting for the Divination exam to conclude, Dudley focused on preparing for the evening's show. He had only one chance to make it right, and one mistake could end up messing up his future.

  He put things where they needed to be and roamed near Gryffindor's common room's entrance. Avoiding the girls and guys greeting him, he waited for Harry, Ron, and Hermione to show up. Since he had already saved Buckbeak, things had changed significantly.

  Where are they? He looked at the mechanical watch on his wrist time and time again.

  Moments ter, he heard Ron's bickering tone from a distance. The guy was still fighting with Hermione about his missing rat.

  "Ron!" Dudley rushed towards the three, bringing out the actor in himself. "Ron, I saw your rat. It was getting chased by a cat."

  "What?!" Ron panicked. "Where?"

  "It ran under the Whomping Willow. You know, it leads to the Shrieking Shack, right? Your rat's either going to get lost in there or, worse, end up as a snack for a cat."

  "N-No! Scabbers!" Ron cried and turned around, running away. "Wait for me, Scabbers!"

  "Ron, wait!" Harry followed.

  With only Hermione there, Dudley whispered advice to her. "The Freezing Charm."

  Scared for her cat, Hermione also ran away, following Harry to leave the castle and head to the Whomping Willow.

  Dudley, hands behind his back, strolled after them, taking his sweet time to exit the castle. He had no pns of following them all the way, so he found himself a nice high-ground location from where he could see the Whomping Willow.

  He then took out a pair of binocurs he had prepared for the day and watched the show unfold.

  I did what I could, Lily Potter. If you still mess it up, it's all on you.

  ####

  "Mum?!"

  "Harry! Stay there!"

  "What's going on? Where's Scabbers?" Ron cried, frantically looking left and right.

  The Shrieking Shack truly creaked, making ghostly sounds from its ancient wood. A small gathering had arrived inside, all in the right pce at the right time.

  "Remus." Sirius Bck stood beside Lily, wand raised high just in case.

  "Sirius." Remus did the same, his eyes glued to the table in the middle of the room. "Was it you who sent the letter? Telling me to be here?"

  "That doesn't matter!" Lily snapped, her voice trembling with urgency. Her gaze locked on her son, then quickly shifted to the table where two items y visible. She already knew who was behind the letters and chose to honor her promise. "Sirius, check the table."

  No longer in tattered clothes or looking like a wraith, Sirius carefully stepped closer to the table and chuckled. "The rat's been caught!"

  Squeak! Squeak!

  All eyes darted towards the small, metal cage on the table so finely built that its mesh walls had barely any space to look inside. In fact, there were tiny needle-sized spikes inside the surface, making the rat jump and squirm.

  "Scabbers!" Ron tried to lunge forward, only to be held back by Hermione.

  "What does the note say?" Lily asked, noticing a sticky note above the cage.

  Sirius grabbed it and read for all. "It says, 'I am Peter Pettigrew, I am an Animagus. Better kill me or I'll run away once again. I betrayed the Potters because I have no spine'."

  Finally, Lily stepped closer to the table and looked into the cage.

  "What's the other note? Looks like a bottle." Remus also closed in on the table.

  "Hah! It's for you, Moony." Sirius read the sticky note on the bottle and chortled. "It says, 'Drink the bloody wolfsbane, you fucking incompetent man. Today's a full moon.' You didn't drink the potion?"

  "I-I didn't… I…" Remus stuttered.

  Speechlessness was an understatement.

  Lily, in silence, lost herself in a daze while eyeing the rat cage. In her heart, she knew whose gift all this was. She knew what would have happened if Remus hadn't drunk the potion.

  And there wasn't anyone but one who she knew could look into the future like that.

  Thank you, Dudley. I will make it up to you.

  Lily Potter almost SFW artwork now up on Patreon and SubStar