"..."
William stood with his arms crossed at the door, staring at the Ford car parked outside the yard for a while, finally couldn’t hold back, and asked, "Wait a minute, old man... Did you fish that thing from the bottom of the Black Lake? I rember soone almost crashed it and killed inside—" He said, glancing at soone.
"... At that ti, it was Ron sitting in the driver’s seat."
Harry whispered in defense, but unfortunately, it still sounded a bit weak.
"Ah, but sadly, that’s not it."
Dumbledore sighed. Apparently, he was also very interested in what William said about fishing up that flying car. He patted the car with his gloved right hand, "Mr. Giant Squid seed unwilling to give the car back, and I drove it to show Tom the Muggle World. The Ministry of Magic wouldn’t allow a car to fly around in the skies of London—"
"Oh, right, speaking of... Let introduce you, this is Tom... Richard—"
Dumbledore "grabbed" over the boy who seed a bit socially anxious standing by the car.
(William sighed at this mont. He originally wanted to call the boy Tom Sawyer to strike first, but the na was snatched away.)
Tom is a common na, especially since not many people know Voldemort’s given na, and William indeed hunted down most of those who did. So Tom could naturally continue to use the na, although the surna was changed out of caution to avoid unnecessary speculation.
"Right, he’s the little grandson of my father’s wife’s mother’s second uncle’s sister’s daughter—"
William explained "briefly and succinctly."
"... You could just say he’s your brother."
Lupin looked up at the sky, calculated for a while, and finally understood the relationship.
"Cousin," William corrected.
It was then that they noticed the boy who stepped out of the car, though he was not as tall as the car itself. He wore a brand new Muggle-style little suit, but his gestures seed a bit awkward. The boy’s complexion looked much rosier than a few months ago, showing how good Dumbledore was at taking care of children.
... Still, not as good as Lupin.
William turned his head, looking at Harry, who spent the sumr at Number 12 Privet Drive and was almost twice as round as he was at school.
While everyone was observing the boy, he was also observing them, his dark eyes curiously sizing up those in front of him.
A boy who seed sowhat... annoying, whose scar wasn’t as impressive as his own; a black canine creature that looked like it hadn’t had a bath in three days; another... canine creature?... This one looked a bit fiercer.
So, Tom’s gaze finally landed on William—Does the teacher like dogs?
When Tom’s gaze t William’s, those calm black eyes suddenly brightened, like stars subrged at the bottom of a lake being suddenly lit.
But the boy was very restrained. He just stood there, his hands slightly clenched, then spoke in a tone that was standard yet with a restraint beyond his apparent age, "William... brother?" His voice was crisp, with a hint of barely perceptible anticipation.
William stepped forward, reached out, naturally ruffled the boy’s neatly combed hair, nodding, "So, how’s it going, Tom—I an, I’m asking about Professor Dumbledore’s driving skills?"
"... Very poor."
Tom had no intention of sparing the old man’s face.
"?"
Dumbledore’s smile froze at the corner of his mouth, while Sirius had already laughed himself onto the grass.
"Then that ans good."
William nodded. After so aningless pleasantries, Lupin led the guests into the living room. Three cheetahs still lounging on the sofa, as if they had claid the place as their territory, turned their heads synchronously, curiously watching Tom standing next to the shoe cabinet.
A large, bright yellow bird perched on the chandelier in the living room, and at this mont, Fawkes nudged Dumbledore’s hat away and flew to the Thunderbird’s side.
"... I thought the two of them wouldn’t get along."
William was stunned for a mont at this scene, then looked down at the boy still leaning against him, walked over to the cupboard, "Alright, then let—" He lifted his hand, fished out a sticky Niffler from the sugar jar on top of the cupboard.
"..."
"Squeak! Squeak!!"
After holding the struggling Kabuda under the running tap for half a minute, William used magic to dry the water off the Niffler, then tossed it into the hands of a sowhat dazed Tom, "Take him and go play with your Potter... um, brother. Let them show you around—" William covered his mouth, trying not to let his expression break apart.
Making Voldemort call Harry Potter ’brother’?
Why, why is there such an unrealistic dream?!
"Do you want sothing to drink, Tom? Milk or juice?"
Lupin also walked to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and turned to ask. He heard from William yesterday that Tom was a Muggle child who hadn’t been much exposed to magic. Though Lupin couldn’t understand why such a child would need Dumbledore personally to bring him, he prepared quite a few beverages suitable for Muggle children’s tastes overnight.
"... Do you have Pepsi Cola?"
After a mont of hesitation, Tom asked quietly.
"Damn it! Dumbledore! What on earth have you been letting him drink!"
William yelled in frustration at Dumbledore, who was keenly observing the cheetahs, "—What kind of heretical thought is Pepsi Cola!" "Is your focus even on point?!" Lupin finally couldn’t hold his friendly face anymore, complaining with no small amount of irritation, "...Would tea be okay?" He took a deep breath and looked back at Tom.
"That would be fine." Tom nodded willingly.
"Dumbledore?"
Handing Tom over to the other two and the Niffler, William felt relieved, turned, and went down to the basent, looking back as he called.
"Coming."
Dumbledore released the cat in his hand, got up from the sofa, and the magically soundproofed wooden door closed behind them, shutting out all sounds from upstairs. The basent’s air, filled with a strange mixed scent, caused Dumbledore to wrinkle his nose slightly in discomfort.
After a mont of adjustnt, Dumbledore curiously began observing his surroundings—it looked like a peculiar creature habitat mixed with a magical workshop here.
On one side of the wall was a tall enclosure, with a sleepy Nundu inside. Above it hung several varied-sized Swooping Evils, a lush cluster of ferns moving without any wind. Several "small snakes" with leather eye covers on their heads were sliding back and forth within—
On the other side, there was an experintal table filled with cauldrons and a forest of stands.
"Have a seat, Professor."
William pointed to the chair by the stone table, sitting across from it himself.
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