Goodness, you actually made me interested in Dudley! I enjoyed this very much. It's difficult to maintain a reader's interest with a straight narrative style but this was captivating, extremely well written. I thought the first paragraph especially was excellent. It's interesting how the effects of peer pressure, though hurtful, can turn out to be beneficial.
clicked the story-of-the-week link, and took a looky.
and i must say, this is a very creative plot...even tho this would
never happen in canon, it's a perfectly reasonable and possible
plot. just in the canon-books, the purpose of Dudley is to be a
comical antagonist i think...but realistically, i could totally see
this happening.
I really like this. I have always liked Dudle as a character mroe than the other dursleys and since JKR said that "there might be hope for him" yet even if there is not for his parents I have had a lots of silly ideas (none of which are likley to pan out in cannon) but this is a lot of fun to read.
I am glad you are taking a slow route and explainning his change not just doing it and have him reveal that he has been reasonable all along and finally realised.
Found this through a recommendation by an Undeniable member and must admit that I enjoyed his slow 180 degree turn a very good read......will there be more?
I give you major kudos! You took a completely unbelievable idea (Dudley getting a clue) and turned it into a wonderful, heart-tugging piece of fiction. I loved this!
Wow!... you've managed what I thought impossible by anyone but the
great JKR - making Dudley believably pitiable - and what she didn't do
- making him somehow redeemable... I can't wait to see where you're
going with this. Thanks!
Wow.... and this goes on? I wasn't expecting another chapter! Wow!
What an exceptional piece of writing this is. Rarely anybody has ever taken on the challenge of Dudley and have made him into a potentially interesting and/or redeemable figure at all, while still keeping the boy in character. I'm very, very impressed. I also love how you handled the narrative- how it seemed as if you were describing his life, rather than it all coming from Dudley's perspective (as that would have made him seem too intelligent for it to be his thoughts at all).
This is one heck of a piece of work. Much kudos to you and the wonderful Pumpkin Juice. :) Will be awaiting the next chapter happily and patiently- wonder what Dudley is going to do next! ;)
This is wonderful. A very plausible start to what promises to be a very interesting story. I can definitely see this happening to Dudley - even though I think he'll grow up to be exactly like Vernon, but we can dream, can't we? - and I can't wait to read the next installment. Excellent job!
Very interesting portrayal of Dudley and how he grows up. I really think we don't see enough of him. Is there going to be a sequel involving the curly-haired girl. She seems to pop up too much for it to be purely for the sake of being mean. You also did a really good job portraying college. The changes can be kinda jarring and sudden. My only criticism is the scene when he first gets there and he lets his parents baby him so people could hear it. Didn't he start crying so his mother would do something for him sometime, maybe in the first book, and then immediately shut up when his friend came over to go to the zoo? And Harry laughs at the contrast between "Big D" and "Dinky Duddums" or something in book 5. Anyway, you've totally got the start-of-college-struggle down pact, with it being more work than ever before and a huge adjustment from what you're used to. In a lot of fics, Dudley suddenly becomes a good guy and apologizes to Harry. It's cool to see how in this one, Dudley changes slowly as a part of growing up and we get to see just how that happens. Great story.
I am impressed. You really did a great job; I've been looking for a good Dudley fic for ages. It is difficult, IMO, to make this sort of story interesting to read. I am looking forward to more of your story. :)
That I would normally not be interested in a Dudley story is a testimony to your skill in writing. Not only have you made an otherwise taboo topic interesting, but believable as well, which makes it even better. Well done, and I'm looking forward to wherever you chose to take this.
I normally don't read Dudley stories, so when I came across this one I nearly skipped it. I'm really glad I didn't and I will definitely be looking for future updates. That said, I'm fascinated by the fact that your Dudley is finally maturing and realizing just how shallow his parents' lives are. I'm very glad he's decided that that is not the life he wants even though he's scared of what this realization means to him.
You are forgiven. We don't have a scholarship system as far as I know. When I was at collage you had to get a grant. Now I'm affraid you even have to pay that back. So yes come over here to collage and uni and get into debt. (Sounds great dosn't it.) Having said that the Dursleys would of paid for all his fee's. You are right about the grades though. If they were not up to scrach he would be out. I liked this fic and I will look forward to reading more when it comes. I hope he meets up with Harry and finally says sorry. Then Harry can punch him in the face. Job done!
Cool - a Dudley awakening. About time... and I really look
forward to see where this leads. After all, he can only get
better - but there are still quite a few roads he can head down.
This is going to be an interesting journey indeed.
