New chapter! Thanks for all the support!
x
No one knew exactly what Petunia and Vernon had discussed the night before, but the next morning, Vernon seemed like a completely different person.
He wasn't complaining about magic anymore.
On the contrary, he showed tremendous interest in this so-called Diagon Alley.
If Dudley hadn't known that Petunia couldn't perform magic, he might have suspected they had swapped his father's brain overnight.
"How long until that… Professor McDuck arrives? I'm already eager to see this magical world!"
Sitting on the sofa, Vernon looked genuinely excited.
"It's only eight-thirty, Dad. Thirty more minutes until nine," Dudley replied, glancing at the wall clock while drying off after his morning training. "And it's Professor McGonagall, not McDuck. Getting someone's name wrong like that is quite rude."
"Oh, Vernon! Come look! What do you think of this outfit?"
Petunia's eager voice echoed from the bedroom, and Vernon hurried upstairs.
Ten minutes later:
"No, this won't do… the color is too flashy."
"Not this one either! Far too extravagant. Lily used to say wizards dress simply…"
Another ten minutes passed, and the wardrobe was overflowing with clothes.
"Oh my God! I have nothing to wear!"
Vernon: "…"
Five minutes later, Dudley had already finished his shower.
Harry emerged from his small bedroom, scratching his stomach and yawning.
He had stayed up too late, too excited about everything that had happened.
At last, Petunia selected what she considered an "appropriate" outfit.
And when the clock struck nine, the doorbell rang right on time.
Professor McGonagall had arrived.
...
"Are we flying on a magic carpet or just taking off into the sky?"
Vernon leaned past her, peering outside curiously.
"I'm afraid not, Mr. Dursley. Flying carpets were banned by the Ministry in the eighteenth century. At least in Europe," McGonagall explained. "We typically use brooms."
"Why are carpets banned?" Dudley asked.
"They are classified as Muggle artifacts."
"So the magical world avoids using things created by ordinary people?"
"For the most part, yes. Televisions, computers… electronic devices do not function at Hogwarts."
"And how do you light the castle?"
"We use candles, oil lamps, and torches," she replied matter-of-factly.
'Isn't that basically the Middle Ages?'
Dudley's eyes nearly popped out.
Even if they were enchanted, at the end of the day… they were still candles.
Nothing beat the efficiency of electric lighting.
For a brief moment, he wondered if not going to Hogwarts might not be so bad after all.
But the thought vanished as quickly as it appeared.
...
"It's almost time. We must go collect the other young witch," McGonagall said, consulting a parchment. "She lives a bit far… but we can use the Floo Network to travel through a nearby wizarding home and then walk about two kilometers."
She added,
"I do hope they're home. Otherwise, we'll have to walk five."
"If they're not home, we can't go in?" Dudley blinked, incredulous.
McGonagall explained patiently.
"If no one is home, the fireplace will be sealed."
There was also Apparition, but Dudley and Harry had never experienced it.
And the first time was not pleasant.
As for Portkeys… none were available nearby.
Dudley stepped closer to read the address on the parchment.
It was an upscale neighborhood in London.
Hardly "remote" by Muggle standards.
"St. John's Wood… that's about a thirty-minute drive."
Then he suggested,
"Why don't we just take our car? It's much simpler."
Professor McGonagall considered the idea.
Compared to walking all that distance, a car seemed perfectly reasonable.
And honestly, the magical alternative wasn't exactly comfortable.
So the five of them climbed into the largest car in the Dursleys' garage.
Vernon's business had been doing well lately, and they now owned three cars.
Petunia and Vernon were slightly disappointed.
They had expected something more… magical.
But since there was no traffic at that hour, they arrived in under half an hour.
...
Standing before a three-story red-roofed house, Dudley felt something strange.
'This place feels familiar…'
Before he could think further, he heard a voice from inside the house.
"Mum! Professor McGonagall will be here any moment! Hurry!"
The door opened, and a young couple and a girl stepped outside.
Upon seeing the group, they looked surprised.
The man quickly broke into a wide smile and extended his hand to Vernon.
"Well, well! If it isn't my dear friend Vernon!"
"Wendell! Long time no see!"
Wendell Granger and Monica Granger.
A well-known dentist couple in London.
They had met when Vernon suffered a terrible toothache after overindulging in ice cream.
During the treatment, they discovered they shared a common passion:
Fishing.
They never caught anything, but their friendship only grew stronger.
Fishermen share a peculiar kind of bond.
In fact, it was Wendell who recommended the school where Dudley had done his exchange program.
And their daughter?
Hermione Jean Granger.
The "Jean" came from Monica's maiden name: Monica Jean.
x
x
x
If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to add it to your library and drop some Power Stones.
Your support really helps the novel grow!