Chapter 170

Chapter 170

Flap, flap… A crooked figure rose and fell erratically against the distant sky. Its flight path was alarming, but its aim remained remarkably precise.

Bang!

“Ow…” Suer cried out and rubbed the part of his chest that had just been struck by the feathered cannonball.

“Hoot!” Little Gray angrily beat Suer with a broad wing, dropped a letter, and flew off to eat in the little shelter.

The envelope bore familiar handwriting. After crossing an unknowable distance, Little Gray had dutifully tied the young couple together with an invisible thread, though the exhausted owl looked ready to collapse.

Suer glanced at the owl falling asleep over its food and felt a little sympathy — though not very much.

He expertly opened the envelope. The first thing to fall out was a photograph of Hermione in a swimsuit. Well, that was unexpectedly bold.

Suer slipped the photograph into his pocket and began reading the letter from afar.

It was not long. Hermione mainly wanted to tell him that she would soon leave the Maldives and travel to Africa with the rest of the group. The International Dental Association had organised a final volunteer programme providing dental care to local communities. Once it ended, everyone would fly directly home from Africa.

That was good news for the owl. It meant no more long-distance deliveries over the next several days.

Suer pictured a line of local people in traditional dress waiting before an enormous gathering of dentists and opening their mouths for inspection…

No. He did not want to continue imagining it.

He could not understand the international association’s reasoning.

Hermione also mentioned meeting two sisters on the beach who, like her, were witches. They were French and studied at Beauxbatons.

French sisters. Beauxbatons. Hmm…

“Please ring Harry for me and wish him a happy birthday.” Hermione’s reminder at the end of the letter made Suer remember that Harry’s birthday fell on the final day of July. Perhaps he could invite Harry to an amusement park. Harry could help keep Angel entertained on the little rides.

Yes, Harry would make an excellent extra pair of hands.

Suer’s own birthday had already passed. The two families celebrated it together before Hermione left on holiday, and Amelia came as well.

Dinner had been abundant, the cake sweet, and the atmosphere lively.

Fate had arranged matters strangely. The night the Ellisons found Suer had crossed into the very date of his birthday, a fact Amelia later confirmed.

…

Beep… beep… Suer heard another engaged tone. This was the third time he had dialled the number Harry had given them.

“It won’t connect?” Suer looked doubtfully at the scrap of paper in his hand. The number was clear, and even he was not foolish enough to enter it incorrectly three times in a row.

There could be only one explanation: Harry had written the number down incorrectly. Harry was the only fool here!

Suer therefore sent Angel to shake the sleeping Little Gray awake.

“Hoot!” Little Gray pecked Suer furiously, then took flight with another letter tied to one leg. The owl had barely rested after the previous journey and plainly resented being sent back into the summer heat.

Suer naturally understood none of the complicated meaning contained in that single angry hoot.

He settled near the piano with the book Snape had given him. Listening to Angel’s pleasant but uneven playing, he opened it.

It was less a book than Snape’s personal notebook.

The original text had been crossed out and altered, replaced by lines of faded ink recording Snape’s own discoveries. Judging by their appearance, these were notes from Snape’s youth.
Most concerned nonverbal casting and small techniques for casting quickly. Every blank space on the pages had been filled. The book also contained numerous minor spells heavily modified by Snape — all of them jinxes, and many of them disturbingly criminal in their potential.

Suer had nearly forgotten that Snape possessed a distinguished past as one of the leading enforcers serving the greatest terrorist in the British magical world.

Suer could not practise the techniques outside school, but he could memorise the book and work on them in the Room of Requirement after returning.

Little Gray returned at dusk with a reply — a single note.

It read: “The Dursleys won’t let me leave the house. If you can, could you come and take me away? I cannot stand it any longer. I live at number four, Privet Drive, Surrey. — Harry”

The handwriting was extremely untidy. The final “y” trailed into a long line, and the note was wrinkled, as though a large piece had been torn hastily from a sheet of parchment.

The owl’s feathers were dishevelled as well. They had been neat when Little Gray left, and Suer had no idea what had happened at Harry’s house.

Harry’s situation was clearly unpleasant. He would not otherwise have made such a direct request. Should Suer go?

Suer knew why Harry had to live with the Dursleys despite their treatment of him. Did Dumbledore truly know nothing about Harry’s circumstances there?

Unlikely. The old bee always had a plan.

Suer would write to Dumbledore first…

“I’m sorry to trouble you again, Little Gray. When you return, I promise I’ll prepare your favourite fresh beef strips — still bloody.”

Only after considerable coaxing did Suer persuade the owl to make one more journey.

Ordinarily, he would not have needed to be so humble. Carrying letters was an owl’s natural duty. But Little Gray had already crossed mountains and seas carrying letters between Hermione and Suer, then endured some unknown ordeal where Harry lived. The poor owl looked completely worn out.

Night deepened. Suer persuaded Angel to finish her milk, then patiently coaxed her to sleep before returning to his own bedroom with a trace of weariness.

It was the Ellisons’ wedding anniversary. After preparing dinner for the two children, Mrs Ellison dressed beautifully and left with Mr Ellison to enjoy some time alone. Apparently, they did not intend to return that night.

They had complete confidence in Suer’s ability to look after his sister and saw no reason to worry.

“Are you certain we should do this?” Mrs Ellison hesitantly tugged at her husband’s clothes before boarding their flight.

“It will be fine. We’re only going away for two days. Don’t you want to visit the place where we first met?” Mr Ellison raised an eyebrow. “It’s only two days. Suer can look after his sister, and I left money in the bedroom.”

“But… Suer is only thirteen. He’s still a child as well.” Mrs Ellison remained uncertain.

“Angel has her piano lesson tomorrow. Suer doesn’t know where it is. How can he take her?”

“Don’t worry, I’ve arranged everything. I already told the piano teacher she would be absent.” Mr Ellison placed an arm gently around Mrs Ellison’s waist.

“I was already earning money in a restaurant when I was thirteen. Besides, an opportunity for a holiday like this is rare.”

A short while later, an aeroplane roared into the air and vanished into the hazy night.