DONG. DONG. DONG. DONG. DONG. DONG.

The enchanted clock adorned with the faces of his five best friends struck six just as the kettle began to whistle. Rubbing his eyes sleepily and removing a particularly wild lock of hair from his line of sight, Harry made his way across the kitchen at Godrics Hollow and set about making a cup of tea. It had been just over a year since the battle of Hogwarts, since the downfall of Voldemort, but the nightmares were still as vivid. Would they ever go? Would he ever be able to get good night's sleep without the faces of Fred, Lupin, Tonks and all the others looming out of the darkness at him?

Shaking his head, Harry pushed those thoughts away and sat down at the large oak table, clutching his steaming mug in his hands. He had Teddy to think of now. And Ginny. It had been almost 8 months since the wedding and the memories of that day still brought a smile to Harry's lips whenever they drifted into his consciousness.

It had been perfect: the sun was bright, flowers were just in bloom, his friends had been there, his teachers … and they had been safe. It was over. For both Harry and Ginny, it had been a way to move on, a fresh start.

Shortly after they had moved into his parents old house – it had been a wedding gift from Ron and Hermione who had married shortly after. They had spent weeks secretly doing it up, painting the walls and fitting out the kitchen. Upon entering it, Harry had felt himself weling up. A place of his own. With someone he loved. After all he had been through….

TAP TAP TAP.

Harry was snapped suddenly out of his reverie by a sharp knocking sound on the kitchen window. A large tawny owl that he didn't recognise was hopping impatiently about on the window sill, a large envelope clutched in its beak. It eyes Harry beadily as he stood up and made his way over to the window and carefully opened it. No sooner had he done so, the owl swept into the kitchen, flew round once, dropping the letter on the table as it did so and darted gracefully out again with a loud screech. Harry cringed, for once glad that Teddy had been staying with Andromeda that night.

"Well good morning to you too" he grumbled, but he couldn't help feeling intrigued as he picked up the letter and examined it. The parchment was… strange….. Almost Muggle. But who would be writing to him using muggle paper? Curiosity building, Harry tore open the letter and began to read…

Dear Harry,

I hope that you are ok – I heard from mum – I mean Aunt Petunia- that you beat Him. You know, that wizard that you told us about. And I guess I just wanted to check how you are. Gosh that sounds weird! I can't believe how I treated you all those years… if I could take it back I would, I swear. I don't know why I did it. Anyway, I thought maybe I could make it up to you, that we could start again-only if you want to of course. I would have written sooner but I didn't know how to reach you for ages and when I did, I just didn't know what to say. How can I make up for 17 years of torment in a single letter? I know now that I cant so maybe we can meet up sometime? I don't know what you are up to but I thought you should know dad died a couple of months back. It was a stroke – no supprise really- but me and mum are doing fine. I am engaged to a really sweet girl called Henrietta if you wanted to know and I would really like you to meet her. I don't know what wizards do for work but I am free next Thursday at 2 o clock if you want to meet for coffee? We could go to that little bakery opposite Grunnings (I work there now) and get a bun? Anyway, I really hope you will reply but I don't blame you if you don't. I don't think I would be able to forgive me if I was you…

Anyway, I hope you are well,

Your cousin, Dudley Dursely

PS/ if you could reply by muggle post that would be great. I had to borrow Mrs Figgs owl – did you know she is a shib? Stig? I can't remember… but it would probably be easiest..! same address as always!

Harry put the letter down. Then immediately picked it up again and reread it. It took a while to sink in. Dudley? Writing to him? And Apologising? Harry thought he would have been less supprised if Voldemort had just walked in through the back door, sat down and started chatting about knitting patterns. Dudley! Harry closed his eyes. All those years…..

The arrival of his wife in the kitchen snapped harry out of his slumber and he looked up bleary eyed just in time to see Ginny pushing a few coins into the prophet's owl's pouch. Squinting at his watch harry started – it was nearly 8am! He must have nodded off…. Then he remembered the letter. Picking it up off his lap where it must have fallen when he nodded off harry read it for a fourth time. No he wasn't dreaming. Dudley, his bullying, spiteful cousin had written to him and wanted to meet up.

"What's that love?"

Harry glanced up as Ginny set two mugs of coffee down on the table, the Prophet floating down to land beside them.

"Er… its just… well, you know my cousin?"

Ginny frowned. "The one that beat you and berated you for the whole of your childhood? I'm not likely to forget why you spent most of your holidays at our house when you were at school."

"Er.. I guess."

Ginny's expression softened as she saw a look of concern cross her husband's face. He always had been a worrier and he needed her weasley ruthlessness to balance that.

"What's up?" she tried again, this time softer.

Mutely harry passed the letter over to Ginny and watched her face carefully as she read it.

"I don't know if I should go." He muttered. He may have defeated Voldemort, fought a basilisk and ridden a dragon in his life but the idea of reuniting with Dudley intimidated him more than he cared to admit. It was just that he had seemed so …. Nice in the letter. It unnerved harry.

Ginny slowly sat down and looked him in the eyes.

"It's your choice. But he is family, no matter how he treated you. Just look at Percy! Miracles do happen, y'know."

Harry nodded and whilst he didn't smile, Ginny noticed his forehead uncrease slightly. Good, she thought. With the amount he had had to worry about over the last few years, he would look 40 before he reached his 21st birthday.

"That's what I thought. I just… wanted to check. I have to check in at the auror office on Thursday morning and we have teddy in the afternoon but I'm sure Andromeda won't mind having him a few hours longer if you have training…."

Ginny just smiled.

"I love you harry"

Harry looked up into her eyes – the exact same shade as her mother's- and just smiled back as he felt a knot in his stomach that had been there since 6 o clock that morning melt into a warm, contented glow.