The wall clock chid heavily. The last stroke of seven o'clock echoed through the spotlessly cleaned living room. Vernon Dursley paced near the dining table like an agitated rhinoceros. His thick neck flushed red as he muttered in his wheezing, hoarse voice, inspecting everything for this banquet.
"Wine's already poured into the decanter. Hopefully, it won't make our distinguished guests vomit. Lemon pie's warming in the oven, ready to serve anyti. Good, good, that just leaves you all."
Vernon first looked at his precious Dudley. "Dudley, know what to say?"
Dudley wore a practiced smile. "I'll take that gentleman's coat, greet him, and Mr. Sprout properly. I'll tell them I've long admired their achievents."
Only then did Vernon nod with satisfaction, then glared fiercely at Harry. Harry smoothly replied before his uncle could speak. "Won't say anything inappropriate, won't do anything inappropriate, maintain proper etiquette. I know."
Just as Vernon opened his mouth, Aunt Petunia's voice rose sharply. "The doorbell! Vernon, the doorbell!" She frantically smoothed her already impeccable hair.
Uncle Vernon fell silent abruptly. He took a deep breath as if trying to squeeze into that tight striped suit and arranged his face into a pleasant smile. He opened the door.
Harry's eyes showed anticipation. Since returning from Hogwarts, he'd completely lost contact with the magical world. He'd even thought everyone had forgotten him. Though he now knew Dobby had intercepted his letters, he still desperately wanted to see a familiar friend, confirming that his year at Hogwarts wasn't just a fleeting dream.
But what he saw disappointed him. An unfamiliar figure stood there, wearing a deep purple suit and a gentleman's hat. A head of carefully styled golden wavy hair, gold-rimd glasses. His face wore a deliberately practiced smile.
"Everyone, hello. Learning I'd be attending such a special gathering tonight, I was absolutely delighted. Allow to introduce myself. I'm Sir Gilderoy Lockhart, Victoria Third-Class dal holder, Anti-War Alliance Honorary mber." He paused slightly, his smile growing more brilliant. "Incidentally, I've won Ti Magazine's Most Charming Smile Award five tis."
The air went still. Harry felt a cold current rush from his soles to his scalp. Goosebumps erupted all over. His toes seed capable of digging a three-bedroom apartnt into the floor.
But the next mont, enthusiastic applause erupted. The Dursleys clapped forcefully. Harry initially thought this was re politeness, but he soon discovered they genuinely showed adoring faces.
Aunt Petunia's pale, harsh face instantly exploded with unprecedented color, spreading to her ears. She instinctively covered her mouth, eyes practically glowing as she looked at Lockhart.
Uncle Vernon was so excited that the fat on his face trembled. "Sir Lockhart, my goodness! What a remarkable honor to have you in our ho! Our family has always wanted to befriend dignified figures like yourself."
Vernon spoke tremulously. Behind Lockhart, Ciel's figure also appeared, his face showing a peculiar expression. Originally, he'd worried whether Lockhart would adapt to such occasions, worried he might expose himself. But now his worry seed completely unnecessary. In such settings, Lockhart was absolutely in his elent.
Uncle Vernon now spotted Ciel and hurriedly welcod him inside. "Mr. Sprout, you look even more radiant than before."
Ciel showed a slight smile, casually responding to Vernon's flattering praise. Harry's entire body trembled slightly, partly from finally seeing Ciel and feeling relieved. He truly had attended Hogwarts for a year rather than imagining it while mad. On the other hand, Uncle Vernon's fawning over Ciel was truly sowhat comical.
Uncle Vernon introduced the Dursley family mbers. When he ntioned Dudley, he spoke for two or three minutes, clearly hoping these two distinguished guests would appreciate his precious Dudders.
Finally, his gaze fell on Harry. "This is my family's distant relative's child, Harry Potter." Then Uncle Vernon stiffly changed the subject. "Well, it's getting late. You gentlen ca from afar; I'm sure you're starved. Shall we eat?"
But both Ciel and Lockhart waved their hands, appearing very interested in the Dursley ho. "No rush. We're not particularly hungry yet. Rather than eating imdiately, could we tour first?"
Ciel said this. Lockhart nodded while his eyes frequently drifted toward Harry. I've increasingly confird during this ti that the mysterious wizard controlling my secrets, or rather the organization behind him, went to such elaborate lengths to blackmail precisely to approach Harry Potter the Savior, gaining his trust and favor. As for why they selected ? Need that be said? I'm Gilderoy Lockhart! Who in the magical world doesn't love ? Having approach Harry Potter shows this organization has quite good judgnt. No wonder they're so powerful.
Regarding Ciel's proposal to tour the house, Vernon imdiately agreed. Lockhart's mind raced as he considered how he could contact Harry Potter, thus completing the organization's assigned task and retrieving those photos.
The Dursleys crowded around Ciel and Lockhart, touring the house. They finished the living room and kitchen and prepared to go upstairs. Ciel's footsteps stopped at the cupboard beneath the staircase.
With curiosity, he examined it, extending his finger to lightly tap that thin, peeling paint door panel. Inside, hollow echoes were emitted.
Ciel suddenly asked, "Oh? This space under the stairs seems like it could house soone?"
The Dursleys' faces instantly turned deathly pale. Vernon's forehead imdiately broke out in fine sweat. Petunia gasped, covering her mouth, eyes wide with terror. "How could this be where we house people? This is where we store miscellaneous items."
Vernon trembled as he spoke. Ciel seed not to notice their reaction, absently stroking the door panel edges, with a tone that carried a reflective quality. "No, no, no, Mr. Dursley. You're decent people; naturally, you wouldn't do such things. But to my knowledge, storage rooms converted from such staircases or cupboards sotis house people. Especially when houses are small, there are many children, or when families have an unwelco distant relative's child. This place cos in quite handy."
Vernon's legs nearly gave out, his face deathly pale. He looked at Harry with disbelieving eyes as if questioning what tricks he'd pulled. Harry's eyes flickered with an unusual light. He never imagined Ciel deliberately ca to the Dursley ho, attended this foolish banquet, possibly to bring this up and give him vindication.
Harry's heart surged with warmth. Ciel seed to narrate a distant story.
"Once there was a boy. Born into a prominent family, he should've lived comfortably. Unfortunately, a sudden attack left him stranded with distant relatives." The stairwell fell silent, only Ciel's voice echoing.
The Dursley trio's faces turned from white to green as they held their breath. "The distant relatives took him in," Ciel continued, tone flat as reading a newspaper. "But they resented this sudden burden. That boy lived in such a stairwell. During the day, he did heavy housework like a servant. At night, he curled up in this cold, hard, musty, narrow space. Oh, right, he also had a cousin whose greatest daily joy was bullying him."
Ciel shook his head, revealing a smile. "Ah, seeing this compartnt, I unconsciously recalled the past. Fortunately, Mr. Dursley, your family isn't like that. I see you've cared for this Harry Potter very well."
Vernon's throat emitted a strange gurgling sound. Sweat the size of beans rolled down his temples. He nodded repeatedly. "Right, right. We've cared for him very well."
But then Vernon's lips trembled as he couldn't help asking. "That boy, what happened to him later?"
Hearing this, Ciel grinned. "Later? Well, that boy was finally found and returned to where he belonged. He also discovered that the power, influence, and wealth he possessed were beyond that of the relative family's wildest dreams. Guess what he did the first day after returning?"
Without waiting for the Dursleys to answer, Ciel continued. "He warmly invited that whole family. Bright sunshine, cool sea breeze, vast ocean surface, plus a group of starving sharks, perfect for practicing freestyle swimming. Though for his distant cousin, considering they grew up together, he still gave him a choice. Practice freestyle or hold a dagger fighting an African lion. The cousin chose the latter."
The Dursley household fell deathly silent. This family of three was like frozen statues. Even breathing seed to stop. Vernon felt nearly faint from his own racing heartbeat. The young Mr. Sprout, whom he'd treated as a godsend, suddenly seed like a ferocious beast.
anwhile, Harry, in his view, even beca handso. Though Harry's also a freak, at least since returning, this kid hasn't hard us. Comparatively, he seems pretty good.
Ciel suddenly burst into loud laughter. "I'm joking! You didn't actually believe such an absurd story? Well, I admit that the boy sleeping in the stairwell cupboard was . I also truly obtained power and influence that those distant relatives couldn't imagine. But as for revenge? That's too extre."
He glanced at Harry, tone becoming gentler. "In fact, though I received so poor treatnt, I can understand. Raising an extra child undoubtedly ans trouble for an ordinary family. Moreover, this child represented huge risk. Being able to raise him this long, the money, ti, and energy spent were considerable."
He smiled. "So even though we're no longer from the sa world, I'd still secretly help them out, solve small troubles, exchange Christmas cards annually, as if those past events never happened. But that's all. Not being from the sa world, too much contact is actually harmful."
Hearing this, the oppressive air finally loosened. The Dursleys felt relieved. Ciel extended his hand, pulling up Dudley, who'd collapsed when hearing "holding a dagger fighting a lion." Dudley's massive body seed light as paper in Ciel's hands.
Then Ciel made a soft sound of surprise, voice carrying astonishnt. He squeezed Dudley's arm again, seemingly confirming sothing. The Dursleys' just-lowered hearts imdiately rose again. Dudley also trembled. But then they heard an almost unbelievable assessnt.
"A genius," Ciel murmured. He never imagined that this Dursley ho visit, besides coming for Dobby and repaying Harry a favor, would have such an unexpected discovery. Dudley from the original story, spoiled by the Dursleys, is actually truly a genius?
For Ciel, who practiced White Eagle Swordsmanship, his understanding of human skeletal structure and muscles was quite deep. Dudley's physical condition, aside from currently being overweight, showed truly exceptional potential. If he had been placed a thousand years ago, he might've been selected by the Religious Inquisition, recruited as a knight trainee. Now, if he develops a talent for fighting or boxing and practices properly, he might achieve considerable success.
In the original story, Dudley seed to have won a boxing championship in elentary school and was quite interested in boxing. Fate truly works in mysterious ways. Considering Vernon Dursley would later help him excavate mineral resources, plus that "story" had scared them plenty, Ciel spoke.
"Dudley's bones are solid, his fra sufficient. He has exceptional boxing talent. He just needs professional training. Of course, first he must lose weight."
These words were like a bolt of lightning cutting through their fear. Dudley's small eyes, inherited from Vernon, imdiately lit up with unprecedented brightness. Vernon and Petunia were stunned. Though they always called Dudley "little Dudders," they never imagined he possessed such talent.
If anyone else said this, they might scoff. But with soone of Ciel's status giving this assessnt, plus the deterrent effect of Ciel's earlier "story," they now hung on his every word. Overwhelming joy washed over them. Their precious Dudders might beco a boxing champion?
Instantly, the Dursley family seed to forget earlier events. Vernon began incoherently expressing gratitude to Lockhart and Ciel. Petunia hurriedly invited them to sit and enjoy dinner.
Harry's mind continuously recalled Ciel's aningful words. The Dursleys had raised him these years; they truly hadn't treated him well. But similarly, he also truly placed a considerable burden on them. Especially after entering Hogwarts, facing Voldemort at first year's end, Harry increasingly realized what dangers his arrival brought. The Dursleys might be torn apart because of him.
From this perspective, them hating him was also reasonable. With such thoughts appearing, so resentnt buried in his heart seed to lt considerably. His mood beca complex while also lightening slightly.
Looking at the wine glass before him, just as Harry hesitated whether to raise his glass saying sothing, his eyes widened like saucers. He emitted an almost moaning sound. "No! Dobby!"
But nobody noticed Harry's movent. On the dining table, the huge lemon pie, carefully baked by Aunt Petunia and decorated with lemon slices and snow-white sugar frosting, floated up from the silver tray without warning. Then its speed suddenly accelerated, flying straight toward Ciel's head, seemingly about to cover him head-to-toe in sticky cream!
The air at this mont seed to completely solidify.
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