Chapter Nine

  Morning dawned brightly, a soft golden chink of sunlight shining through a gap in the tan colored curtains covering Harry's bedroom window. It was this beam of light that prevented Harry from drifting back off to sleep like he wanted to when his alarm rang at 5:45. Harry pushed back his covers and climbed a little stiffly out of bed before drifting off towards the bathroom to grab a quick shower. Harry turned his face up towards the warm spray issuing from the shower head, trying desperately to wake himself up. Harry wished he had a flask of Invigoration Draught however for all the good the shower was doing. Dressing himself quickly in an old, slightly snug T-shirt and a pair of faded, scarlet sweat pants, Harry decided against breakfast as he sat on the side of the tub, lacing up his worn trainers. He had a feeling that this was something Dudley would likely advise against, but Harry also had a feeling that he would be vomiting up his insides later after exercising, so better an empty stomach than a full one. Stuffing his wand into the waistband on his sweats and covering it with his shirt, Harry exited the flat and with a loud crack that rent the quiet morning air, Apparated seconds later into the alley behind the gym Dudley was waiting for him inside.
   Harry strode quickly around to the front of the small brick building, eager to begin now that he was here. Pushing his way through two sets of glass fronted doors, it didn't take long to spot Dudley among the sparse crowd of people that populated the little gymnasium. Dudley looked up from the spot where he stood lifting weights at the sound of someone new entering the building. Realizing it was Harry, Dudley replaced the weights on a large metal rack and made his way to where Harry stood, stalled on the small black mat right inside the doorway. A smile spread across his face which frankly surprised Harry. "Harry, good to see you again, mate!," Dudley called as he hurried forward, hand outstretched for a handshake as he approached an apprehensive Harry. Coming to his senses, Harry lunged his hand forward, firmly grasping Dudley's slightly sweaty one and giving it a vigorous shake. He didn't know where this happiness was coming from, but Harry knew the tightness in his cheeks meant he was enthusiastically returning Dudley's wide smile. "Good to see you too, Dudders!," Harry replied at last. Who was he and where had the real Harry gone?
   "Sorry if I'm late...," Harry began.
   "Oh no, you're right on time. I was early," Dudley replied briskly. "Er, well then, let's get started then shall we?," Dudley said, throwing a nervous glance in Harry's direction. Ah yes, there it was, that familiar awkwardness that Harry had come to associate with Dudley Dursley. Harry gave his cousin an appraising glance and discovered that he was still just as tall, blond, and large as he remembered. Fat had given way to muscles however, and despite whatever reservations Harry may have had, he knew that there was no doubt Dudley could get the job done.
   "Right then, where should we start first?," Harry asked, looking around now at the machines within the gym, wondering vaguely which one would hurt the least.
   "Let's start with some cardio. Get the blood pumping a bit," Dudley replied, nodding his head in the direction of an intimidating looking treadmill. Harry swallowed hard, nodded once, then trailed Dudley over to the machine. "Right, hop on then," Dudley instructed. Harry obeyed and waited and watched as Dudley fiddled with buttons and knobs on the machine's front, everything very foreign to Harry despite having grown up with Dudley and his parents.
   "How does this work?," Harry wanted to know.
   "It's easy. Just hang on to these bars and walk with the pace of the treadmill. Ready?"
   "Er, yeah, I guess...," Harry didn't feel at all ready, but he was determined not to make a fool of himself in front of Dudley. Dudley pressed another button and the belt beneath Harry's feet began to lurch forward. Startled by the sudden motion, Harry forgot to move his feet and as a result very nearly landed on his face. With a slight flailing of limbs and many muttered curse words, Harry regained his balance and began to walk in rhythm with the machine. Luckily conversation was impossible as within a minute or less, Harry became significantly out of breath. Dudley required him to huff and puff along for what felt like several hours, but Dudley assured him was only twenty minutes. Sweat dripping into his face, Harry stumbled off of the treadmill and bent over with his hands on his knees, wheezing and spluttering for air. Dudley disappeared from Harry's side and reappeared moments later with a soft, white towel and an ice cold bottle of water. Harry gratefully accepted both and proceeded to mop himself up and rehydrate. Feeling slightly refortified, Harry looked up and into Dudley's eyes and with a tiny grin asked, "What's next?"