It was square-shaped, with a shaggy, fur-like cover. Four large, round, unnervingly clear yellow eyes blinked from its surface, set above a row of sharp, jagged teeth. It was less a book and more a monster.
And yet, Dudley recognized it instantly. Embossed in gleaming, hot-stamped gold letters across its cover was the title: The Monster Book of Monsters.
He had always known that Harry Potter's world was one of wondrous magic, and he had yearned to be a part of it. But this was the first time he had truly come face-to-face with it. The first time, that is, if you didn't count the useless "mage constitution" of Shinji Matou.
As Dudley stood there, momentarily stunned, the book seemed to notice him. It abandoned its frantic pursuit of the cats, swiveled its four eyes in his direction, and charged, its toothy maw snapping menacingly.
At the sight, Snowy's fur stood on end. Her entire body puffed up, and she let out a furious hiss, a high-pitched shriek of warning aimed at the advancing book. The threat was useless; the monstrous volume continued its charge. Snowy was clearly terrified, but she held her ground at Dudley's feet, the sharp claws hidden in her paw pads extending, ready for a desperate fight.
Okay, what's the plan? Dudley's mind raced. Cast a spell? How? I don't know any!
His eyes darted around the chaotic room, and he saw it: a still, furry shape lying motionless on the floor. It was the fourth cat, Tibbles.
Was he injured? Or worse? Either way, Dudley knew this monstrous book was to blame. He already adored these cats, and the time he'd spent with them had only deepened that affection. A cold, hard knot of anger formed in his stomach.
"Fine," he muttered, rolling up his sleeves. "We'll do this my way."
He took a single step forward to meet the charging book and swung his fist. The movement was a blur of speed and precision.
THUD.
The impact was a dull, heavy sound that shook the entire room, like a sledgehammer striking concrete.
And then, silence.
It was the same punch that had instantly defeated the self-proclaimed strongest high school boxer in all of England.
Dudley slowly pulled his fist from the now-limp cover of the book. It lay quietly on the ground, completely still.
"Go on, try being fierce again," Dudley taunted, grabbing the book by its spine and giving it a shake. It was now completely docile, hanging limply in his hand. Two ribbon-like strips, which he supposed were its tongues, lolled out of its mouth.
Did I kill it? he thought, a flicker of concern crossing his mind. I'm pretty sure I held back a third of my strength. If this thing is actually dead, how am I supposed to pay for it?
Just then, a sharp gasp came from the doorway.
"Oh, by Merlin's beard! What in the world happened here?"
Mrs. Figg stood there, a shopping basket still clutched in her hand. She ran into the room, her eyes wide as she took in the ransacked state of the storeroom. Her expression shifted as she looked at Dudley.
"Dudley, dear, what happened?" There was more suspicion than confusion in her tone.
To be fair, her reaction was remarkably calm. Imagine letting your neighbor's child stay in your home, trusting them with a key, only to find them in a locked room that was now a complete disaster.
"Mrs. Figg, I thought there was a burglar," Dudley said, holding up the limp monster book. "This thing... it hurt Tibbles."
Mrs. Figg pointed a trembling finger at a cat that was just then casually strolling past the doorway. "But... isn't that Tibbles right there?"
Dudley's eyes widened. That little traitor was playing dead!
As he stood there, struggling to find the right words, Snowy trotted over to Mrs. Figg's feet.
"Meow-meow-meow," she chirped, the tones rising and falling in a complex, melodic pattern Dudley had never heard before.
And then, another magical scene unfolded.
"Oh, is that so, Snowy?" Mrs. Figg nodded as the cat continued her story, her expression one of perfect understanding.
She turned back to Dudley, her face full of apology. "Oh, my dear boy, I am so sorry. I completely misunderstood. Thank you for protecting them."
Dudley barely registered the apology. His mind was reeling. Mrs. Figg... understands cat language? Could she be... a witch?
His eyes lit up. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his frantically beating heart. Countless thoughts raced through his mind as he carefully arranged his features into an expression of hesitant curiosity.
"Mrs. Figg," he began, "are you... are you the same as Harry? My parents, they call him a freak sometimes. He can do things... things that normal people can't." He lowered his voice. "I once heard them call it... magic."
Mrs. Figg looked surprised, but she quickly understood. Growing up alongside a young wizard, he must have witnessed inexplicable magical outbursts more than once. And Dudley was a clever boy.
After a moment's thought, she said, "You are very clever, child."
"So magic is real?" Dudley pressed, his voice full of the manufactured awe of a child who had just discovered a hidden world. "Can you teach me? I... I want to learn magic too."
Mrs. Figg shook her head regretfully. "I'm very sorry, dear. I can't do that." She sighed. "But I suppose it's fine to tell you. You are his cousin, after all. You'd find out eventually." She took a deep breath, her expression serious. "I am like Harry, and yet... I am different."
And for the first time, someone explained the magical world to Dudley. As Mrs. Figg spoke, a new reality unfolded before him, one far more fascinating than he could have imagined.
In the world of Harry Potter, there were three types of people: wizards, Muggles, and Squibs. Wizards, like Harry, were spellcasters. Muggles, like the original Dudley Dursley, had no connection to magic at all. And Squibs... Squibs were people born into wizarding families who were unable to perform magic. Mrs. Figg was a Squib.
But Squibs were not the same as Muggles. While they couldn't cast spells, they possessed other unique abilities. Mrs. Figg's ability to communicate with her cats was one such power, an ability that even many wizards lacked. It was how she used them as spies for the Order of the Phoenix. It was also why, unlike Muggles, she could see things that were hidden from the non-magical world, like Dementors.
***
(End of Chapter)
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