"Neighbours and Friends" (Arabella Figg, Dudley Dursley)

[friendshipmods]

This is the last story of the 2013 HP_friendship fest. Tomorrow we'll post the anonymous masterlist, and next Saturday we'll post the reveals, so you'll have plenty of time to catch up with stories before reveals go up. Dear friends, I give you, last but not least, Arabella and Dudley.

Author: Anonymous
Prompt/Prompt Author: Harry saving his life when the

Comments

[kellychambliss]

It makes sense that Dudley would have needed to process his Dementor experience, and Mrs Figg is the perfect one to help him. I like the gradual development of their friendship. Plus, I always enjoy stories that show canon events from different perspectives. Of course from Dudley's pov, Dumbledore is beyond rude, and Hagrid is terrifying (and really, they both were). You also give us a perfect explanation for Dudley's change of heart toward Harry near the end. I also like how you humanize him by showing him as a cat person. Awww....he likes Mr Tibbles and Snowy.

Among the many spot-on explanations you provide is this one:

"Wizarding adulthood is at seventeen so that young magical folk could complete their last year in school as adults. It allows them to practise more advanced magic while still under supervision."Yes! I love this. That whole "wizards are of age at 17" thing always seemed like a literary weakness to me, something so obviously done just as a plot device. Yet as you show here, it could easily have been made a

[jean_doe_27]

I am honoured to be able to provide an explanation that works! Mrs Figg is a good woman that tries to help but is limited, and Dudley, well, he is not a complete ass as is shown in DH.Dumbeldore is such a hero in the community, but after his death, questions are asked, because he is, really, a bit of an arrogant prick.
Glad you liked it!

[magnetic_pole]

A great friendship and a great fic--one that satisfies our curiosity about Dudley's fate and helps put right the high-handed way the families were treated in the final book. Enjoyed! M.

[jean_doe_27]

Thanks you so much!
JD

[shadowycat]

I love this! It all makes perfect sense the way you explained it and fits really well into canon. I love that you take your time and show their first suspicious and uncertain interactions, and how they slowly grow into a real friendship. Wonderful written! :D

[jean_doe_27]

Credit goes to sehlat_charmer for requesting it.. she set the boundaries, I merely tried to keep to her request, I am glad you found it believebale.

[sehlat_charmer]

They say: "Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it"... Hah! You, *author*, gave me exactly what I'd wished for, and it was great. Many thanks!
I loved how you showed the changes in Dudley, without turning him into a saint all of a sudden - he learns something, but he's human, and a teenage human to boot. Dudley could easily believe that Harry would be occasionally beaten up at school for being a righteous ass; it made sense, but the thought that he was accused for it by a court? is one of my favorite lines; Dudley's opinion of Harry may be skewed, but it's not *100%* wrong. (And this goes for both cousins, which makes this fic fit seamlessly into canon

[jean_doe_27]

Thanks you so mush for the prompt. I was disappointed to see it taken, and equally delighted when I was offered to pinch-hit! I always wanted to write a Dudley redeemed fic, and you gave me the opportunity. Dudley was unfortunate to grow up with the parents that he had but that does not mean he is stupid, just spoiled.
I am really delighted that you liked it!

[twisted_twister]

Well, darling, you know how I love this story (commenting after the reveals does have its own merits). Perfectly paced, cleverly crafted, and the letter in the end? To Die For. What else can I say? I wish for them both that this did happen like that, and that this friendship is what made Big D the more considerate cousin that he became on the seventh book. Really well done! I'm so happy you took on the pinch-hit; this story just needed to be told.