bioinnovel Chapter 417 Growth Comes at a Price
Chapter 417 Growth Comes at a Price
Chapter 417 Growth Comes at a Price
Half an hour later, Belvina knocked on the tightly closed door of No. 4 Privet Drive and entered the house that did not welcome wizards, under the fearful and disgusted gaze of Vernon Dursley.
In the clean, spotless living room, Petunia Dursley was questioning Harry about what he had done to little Dada.
Harry insisted that he hadn't done anything to Dudley and even swore an oath, but his aunt simply didn't believe him.
"In fact, Harry not only didn't hurt your precious son, he actually protected him."
As she spoke, Belvina walked into the living room.
Penny, who had been shouting just moments before, immediately fell silent. She craned her neck and stared at Belvina in astonishment.
Harry looked over too, a bright smile spreading across his still-childish face, but he quickly suppressed his smile and turned his head away in a huff.
Summer vacation has been over for more than a month, and apart from his birthday present, Harry hasn't received any letters. It's as if he's lost contact with everyone.
It's obvious that baby Harry is angry because he feels abandoned!
Although Belvina was unmarried and childless, she quickly came up with a solution based on her extensive experience in raising children.
"Harry, now go upstairs and pack your things," she said, pulling out a pocket watch as if to time it. "You only have fifteen minutes."
Although Harry wanted to throw a tantrum, his body betrayed him. He quickly left the living room, ran upstairs to his bedroom, and packed his things.
In the spotless living room, the portly Vernon and the slender Penny huddled together, shielding their beloved Dudley behind them as if the woman before them might harm their son.
"Please sit down, Mr. and Mrs. Dursley," Belvina said, taking the initiative. "If you'd like to know what really happened tonight..."
"Get out of here, right now!" Vernon roared, veins throbbing on his forehead. "Take that brat with you!"
It seems the effects of Sirius's punch last summer are still lingering; Vernon Dursley, though furious, still said "please."
"Let's sit down and talk," Belvina said. "You're different from other Muggles; you have the right to know the truth."
With that, Belvina waved her hand, and the sofa flew behind the Dursleys, hitting them in the backs of their legs. Losing their balance, Vernon and Penny tumbled onto the sofa. Then, the sofa carried the couple back to their original position.
"Tonight, a dark wizard—you can think of him as one of the bad guys among us—showed up on Privet Drive and secretly followed Harry. I guess he's up to no good." Belvina continued, "He's here tonight, secretly following Harry. I suppose he's up to no good."
In a few words, Belvina explained the whole story of the evening, including how Harry protected Dudley and how the Ministry of Magic escorted the two cousins home.
"Get out of here! Immediately, right now!" Vernon jumped to his feet, roaring, "Take him with you!" Vernon pointed upstairs, "I understand, Dudley is like this because of him!"
Although Vernon was afraid of wizards, as a husband and father, he bravely stood up and wanted to get Belvina and Harry away as soon as possible.
Belvina glanced disdainfully at Vernon, who was spitting as he spoke, and continued slowly, "Of course I will leave with Harry, but for your safety, I must inform you of some things in advance."
She paused for a moment, then continued, "Given the current dire situation, and the fact that you are Harry's only blood relatives, the Ministry of Magic will continue to protect you after Harry leaves Privet Drive."
"Wait a minute, what is the Ministry of Magic?" Vernon asked warily. "And why are they protecting us?"
'
"The Ministry of Magic is a government for people like us."
"Do people like you even have a government?"
"Interrupting someone is very impolite, and you have interrupted me twice already."
As she spoke, Belvina held up two fingers, and as her slender, fair fingers playfully bent, Vernon slumped back onto the sofa with a "Duang!"
"As for why we need to protect you, it's because Voldemort is back," Belvina said. "In order to kill Harry, Voldemort might use you to threaten him into submission."
Besides using the Dursleys to blackmail Harry, Voldemort could also kill the Dursleys to break the protective magic left by Lily Potter.
"V-Wait, I think I've heard that name before," Vernon muttered, his face flushed.
Penny, standing to the side, was deathly pale. She clearly remembered Voldemort's name. Penny said in a trembling voice, "He is... he is—"
With his wife's prompting, Vernon remembered where he had heard the name before.
"Very well, now I understand everything." Vernon mustered his courage and roared, "Both of you get out of here! Leave my family, leave my house!"
Harry Potter is the source of all danger. As long as Harry Potter is kept out of the way, no one will threaten his wife and children. Vernon Dursley thought to himself.
"I understand how you feel right now. I will also leave with Harry, but Harry will return to you next summer."
As she spoke, Belvina snapped her fingers, and Vernon immediately let out a painful howl as a large bump quickly swelled up on his forehead.
"No, I will absolutely not let that kid set foot in my house again!" Vernon clutched his forehead in anguish. "Absolutely not! I can't let him bring danger to my wife and son."
Although Vernon Dursley was a rude, barbaric, and foolish man, he deeply loved Penny and Dudley.
For Petunia's sake, Vernon not only accepted the terrible fact that his sister-in-law was a "freak," but also adopted his nephew Harry, who was also a "freak."
Belvina disliked Vernon Dursley intensely, but when it came to family matters, she was willing to praise him as "a real man."
If Barty Crouch Jr.'s father had been Vernon, Barty might not have turned to crime.
“I’m afraid that won’t work, Mr. Dursley,” Belvina said. “Harry must return to you.” She looked at Petunia, who was pale as a ghost.
It was only then that Belvina noticed the strangeness in Penny's eyes. Instead of the usual hatred and disgust for wizards, her eyes were filled with fear—fear of Voldemort.
It felt as if Petunia Dursley knew what Voldemort had done and what he would do when he returned.
Penny, pale-faced and terrified, didn't say a word. She simply held onto her husband's arm to stop Vernon from continuing his rant.
"Very good, we've reached an agreement once again, just like last summer," Belvina said with a smile. She suddenly felt a strong urge to dissect Penny's thoughts and see what Mrs. Dursley was really thinking.
Belvina looked at Vernon again and said to him, "The Ministry of Magic will provide you with 24-hour protection. If you need it, the Ministry can also provide you with a house in the countryside, which is a privilege that only ministers receive after retirement."
Vernon Dursley, clutching his forehead, remained silent, staring fiercely at Belvina as if that would banish the plague from his home forever.
After a while, Harry dragged his suitcase back downstairs.
Belvina stood up, drew her wand, and waved it at the birdcage, suitcase, and flying broom, which all vanished instantly.
"Well then, we'll take our leave, Mr. and Mrs. Dursley," Belvina said as she walked out.
As Belvina walked up to Harry, she suddenly turned back and said to the Dursleys, "Mr. Dursley has made remarkable progress in his physique since last summer. Keep it up."
This time, Belvina didn't do anything unnecessary. She led Harry out of the house and onto the sweltering, deserted street.
Even though he was about to leave Privet Drive, Harry still looked sullen, as if he was still holding a grudge.
"Why haven't any of you contacted me?" Harry asked. "You, Sirius, and Remus, none of you have contacted me."
"Professor Dumbledore won't allow it," Belvina said lightly, betraying Dumbledore without any remorse.
"I never knew you listened to Professor Dumbledore so much," Harry said sullenly. "What's the reason he wouldn't let you contact me?"
"Ah, I know why, but I can't tell you now." Belvina chose to betray Dumbledore further. "Believe me, Harry, I'm trying to persuade Dumbledore—well, in every way."
Harry glanced at Mrs. Figg's house not far away and said, "I didn't know Mrs. Figg knew Dumbledore. I used to hate Mrs. Figg when I was a child; she always showed me pictures of her cats. I never imagined this was Dumbledore's arrangement, that he instructed Mrs. Figg to take care of me."
"That's precisely what makes Professor Dumbledore so terrifying—" Belvina paused, "or rather, so great."
"What do you mean?" Harry scratched his head. His external brain wasn't with him, and his internal brain wasn't receiving a signal, so he didn't understand.
"Professor Dumbledore always thinks of things that others don't," Belvina explained softly. "You never know what else he might pull out of his robe pocket."
Belvina looked at the boy beside her, who was now taller than her, and continued, "Alright, we should leave here."
"Shouldn't we tell the Ministry of Magic? You mean that Williamson guy?" Harry asked. "Have they caught the guy who's been following me?"
"No," Belvina said calmly. "Aurosevic was seriously injured, and batter Lambert died on the spot."
In an instant, Harry's mind went blank.
One person was injured because of him, and another person died because of him.
Before today, he had never even met Savage and Lambert.
"Harry, this is just the beginning," Belvina continued. "You'll have to get used to it. It's cruel, but you have to."
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