Wow. Bravo!!   This was like a rambling pice of nothing that I absolutely loved!!! The underlying theme of "one step to a thousand miles" kept its purpose, but the other trivial components came together prefectly.  I loved the Dudley interactions. And the Ginny! woot woot!  this was a really great story.

Delani

cornucopia that Life had to offer

Thank you PHsname! I'm glad you enjoyed the characterisations, as I tried hard to keep them true to canon.

Yup, this story *is* a one-shot and I won't be continuing, but another one-shot around succeeding events might not be out of the question. ;)

Abosolutely Perfect!

Any more to come?

Thank you SweetDreamer!

As for 'any more'... Well, this story was conceived as a one-shot and is complete, but a one-shot centred around events at Bill's wedding might not be out of the question...

I read this as my bedtime story last night and stayed up 'way too late to finish it.  I loved the interaction between Harry and Dudley and the fact that suddenly Dudley is seeing Harry in a very different light.  I could almost feel Dudley's jealousy when he discovered that Ginny was very attracted to his cousin and almost laughed aloud when Dudley finally got it that magic is part of genetics! 

The other part that went straight to my heart was how Hedwig wouldn't be left behind.  She's always been so loyal to Harry and, like Ginny, only wants to be with him.  Hermione's solution to the camouflage problem had me grinning from ear to ear.

All in all, this is one of the best stories I've read so far after HBP.  I sincerely hope that some of your ideas show up in canon in Book 7.

Thank you muchly, Arnel! Sorry I kept you up though --the soul of brevity I'm not!

Yes, I rather thought it was time the scales fell from 'Big D's' eyes, as they say, and saw his cousin as a far better man. I do hope Hedwig *doesn't* get left behind because she has, as you say, been so loyal to Harry.

Gosh- erm, thank you again for reading and commenting; I appreciate it.

Ah, Monty, you make me blush and giggle!

I recall a similar experience with a shot in the arm but I was old enough to disagree with the nurse who said, "There, that didn't hurt, did it?" after sticking the tetanus jab in my arm. I love it when folk empathise that way with what I've written; I feel I've got the scene true-to-life in a small way.

*hugs* you for commenting on Harry's line; I hoped I'd got that about right. I wanted to echo what he replied to Ginny when she said, "I don't care!" at the funeral.

Thank you, Stephanie! I tried very hard to keep them true to canon, so I'm glad you thought so! (With assistance from my splendiferous Beta, Katieay, who nudges me gently if I give Harry things to say that don't sound quite 'Harry', lol!)

:D I have no plans for a sequel as this was conceived as a one-shot, but another one-shot on Bill's wedding isn't out of the question...

Thank you, Astrid! Yes, I think Dudley needs a few whacks with the 'Clue Stick' myself and this was one way I could imagine it happening. In honesty, I don't believe Ginny *will* go with the Trio in canon, and I'm sure JKR will have a great scene for Harry meeting Ginny at the wedding...

Thanks for dropping by to comment, I appreciate it! :D

This is a great portrait of Harry's reckoning with Dudley, and where his own life is going. You captured all of the characters really well, but I especially liked how you wrote Harry. It was very reminiscent of Harry's personality in HBP, when he is talking with Scrimgeour. Great job.

Thank you, Kelley! :D

Jo has said that Harry will get his own back on Dudley at some point and I saw this as one way it might happen. I was inspired by a link that our own Alliekiwi gave me, read a few lines, thought 'Dudley' and off I went!