Chapter 172

Chapter 172

Harry was extraordinarily generous. He bought Angel armfuls of sweets — practically everything that caught her interest.

He also bought a large collection of fascinating magical toys. Most were designed to frighten people, but Angel was not afraid in the slightest. She laughed delightedly whenever the toys demonstrated their effects.

Harry then treated Suer and Angel to an authentic Hogwarts dinner at a restaurant.

The chef was a house-elf whom the restaurant owner had somehow lured away from the kitchens of Hogwarts castle.

The owner, incidentally, had graduated from Hufflepuff more than a dozen years before Suer and his friends.

Their senior was a remarkable man. Persuading a house-elf to leave the kitchens was almost impossibly difficult. Plenty of Hufflepuffs had entertained the same idea, but scarcely any succeeded.

Suer had considered it as well. A house-elf who performed housework perfectly, cooked delicious food, and obeyed every request would be welcome in any household.

While they chatted in the restaurant, Suer mentioned being unable to reach the Dursleys by telephone. Harry explained why.

“Didn’t I give all of you the number? About a week into the holidays, Ron and Uncle Vernon had a furious argument over the telephone. The number stopped working after that day.”

“He disconnected the line.” Harry shrugged helplessly.

The three wandered around Diagon Alley until the streets had nearly emptied, then took a taxi back to Lily Street.

Because Angel was with them, they could not return through a fireplace with Floo powder.

There was no known precedent for a Muggle using Floo powder, and Suer certainly would not risk his sister.

After the amusement park and an afternoon of excitement in the magical shopping district, Angel was exhausted. She fell asleep against Suer in the taxi.

When they reached home, Suer pointed towards the sitting room, indicating that Harry should wait on the sofa while he carried Angel upstairs.

The moment she lay on the bed, the little girl hugged her unicorn toy. A smile lingered at the corner of her mouth as she slept deeply, cheeks warm and rosy.

Suer was preparing the guest room for Harry when the sharp sound of something striking glass came from downstairs.

Harry gave a startled cry that stopped abruptly.

Suer hurried into his bedroom opposite, seized his wand, and raced downstairs. If something happened to Harry immediately after arriving at Suer’s house, Dumbledore would lose his mind.

Only when Suer reached the stairs and saw Harry standing unharmed with his back towards him did he quietly relax.

“What happened?” Suer asked as he approached.

Harry stood helplessly before the window. He glanced back at Suer’s voice. “It’s Errol, Ron’s owl.”

A large grey owl lay unconscious before Harry with an enormous parcel tied to its legs. Suer recognised the bird. It had once delivered Ron a Howler and crashed head-first into Suer’s milk jug.

The other owl was unfamiliar. It was a handsome bird with glossy tawny feathers.

“This one’s from Hogwarts.” Harry began untying Errol. “Is there any water? He doesn’t look well.”

“There is some in Little Gray’s cage.” Suer glanced at the parcel and pointed towards the cage in a corner of the sitting room.

If he remembered correctly, his own owl was dark brown, not white…

Oh. That was Harry’s owl. Was her name Hedwig?

When had Hedwig and Little Gray become so close? Suer stared blankly as the two birds rubbed their heads together.

Harry carried Errol to the cage. The other two owls hopped out, surrendered the cage to the exhausted bird, then ran to the open window and flew away together.

“Hoot…” Errol gave a weak call, and Harry finally relaxed before returning.

“Harry, is Hedwig male or female?” Suer could not help asking.

“She’s a girl. Why?” Harry answered without looking up as he untied the letter from the Hogwarts owl.

“Er… no reason.” Suer’s expression became rather strange.

Little Gray had only just reached adulthood and already seemed remarkably successful at courting.

As soon as Harry removed the envelope, the Hogwarts owl flew out through the window and disappeared into the night.

“There are two letters. One is yours.” Harry examined them and handed one to Suer.

“Dear Mr Bones,

“Please note that the new term begins on 1 September. The Hogwarts Express will depart from platform nine and three-quarters at King’s Cross station at eleven o’clock.

“Third-year students may visit Hogsmeade on certain weekends. Please have the enclosed permission form signed by a parent or guardian.
“A list of books for the coming term is enclosed.

“Yours sincerely,

“Professor McGonagall
“Deputy Headmistress”

“Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia will never sign the form. They’d love me to break the school rules and spend the rest of my life locked in a dungeon without ever coming home.” The boys finished reading at almost the same time, and Harry spoke dejectedly.

The good mood that had lasted all day seemed to vanish beneath an invisible hand.

“Don’t say that, Harry. Professor McGonagall might understand your unusual circumstances and make an exception.” Suer slipped his letter back into the envelope and placed it in his pocket.

“Impossible.” Harry muttered and put his envelope aside. “Convincing Professor McGonagall is harder than convincing Uncle Vernon or Aunt Petunia. I’d have better luck with them.”

He began opening the enormous parcel that had nearly exhausted Errol to death.

The first things to emerge were a gift wrapped in gold paper and a letter. The letter from Ron Weasley brought a smile back to Harry’s face.

“Wow, Mr Weasley won a grand prize,” Harry exclaimed. “Seven hundred Galleons. They used the money to visit Egypt.”

Harry showed Suer the photograph enclosed with the letter. Nine people stood before an enormous pyramid and waved energetically. Even Scabbers, perched on Ron’s shoulder, was included. The rat looked alarmed and kept glancing around.

Harry began reading Ron’s handwritten letter aloud. “Happy birthday, Harry. I’m really sorry about that telephone call. Dad told me I shouldn’t have shouted at your uncle…”

“Percy became Head Boy. He received the letter from Hogwarts just after we arrived in Egypt.”

“Mum is unbelievably proud. She boasts to everyone in the wizarding bars here that her second son has become Head Boy. George, Fred, and I all think it’s terrible news. He’ll strut around the school showing off again when we return.”

“By the way, there is a Pocket Sneakoscope in the parcel. If anyone suspicious is nearby, it is supposed to warn you by spinning and lighting up. Bill says it is cheap rubbish sold to wizard tourists in Egypt and isn’t reliable at all.”

“But I think it works sometimes. It kept spinning and glowing during dinner last night because Fred and George had put a beetle in Bill’s bowl without him noticing.”

“We’ll stay in Egypt for a month and return one week before the holidays end. Can we arrange to meet then? — Your good friend, Ron”

Harry lowered the letter and eagerly continued unwrapping the parcel. The moment he opened it, however, a book leapt out, opened a mouth filled with sharp teeth, and bit his hand.

It looked like one of Fred and George’s pranks.

Suer struggled for some time before tearing the book from Harry’s hand. Harry’s face turned purple as he suppressed his screams to avoid waking Angel upstairs.

“It’s from Hagrid.” Harry twitched and used a trembling hand to retrieve the note included in the parcel. “It’s a textbook. Good heavens, Hagrid will become the Care of Magical Creatures professor next term. They’ve assigned him the third- and fourth-year classes.”

“That’s good news.” Suer nodded and struck the book as it attempted to bite him. “But first, could you see whether the letter says how to make this damned thing stay quiet?”

“Let me look.” Harry hurriedly checked both sides of Hagrid’s note. It contained only birthday wishes and the news of Hagrid’s appointment.

With no other choice, Suer and Harry wedged a small iron saucepan from the kitchen into the biting book’s mouth. Only then did it become quiet.

For safety, Suer found a rope and tied it tightly.

“Whew. Keep opening the parcel. I’m going upstairs to see whether this damned book woke my sister.” Suer sighed with relief.

Harry looked fearfully at the book that had nearly bitten through his wrist and nodded.

Fortunately, the room was well insulated against sound. Angel remained deeply asleep and appeared to be having a pleasant dream.

Because it was Harry’s birthday, Suer had naturally prepared a gift as well, together with Hermione’s. If Dumbledore had refused permission for Suer to collect Harry, he had intended to send Little Gray.

When Suer brought the gifts downstairs and handed them to Harry, who was examining the Pocket Sneakoscope, Harry looked close to tears.

Hermione had given Harry a complete broomstick servicing kit. Suer’s gift followed the same idea, but it was designed for wand maintenance.

“Thank you, Suer.” Overcome with emotion, Harry embraced him tightly, making Suer shiver with discomfort.

“Don’t become sentimental.” Suer quickly pulled free and glared at Harry awkwardly.

“Happy birthday, Harry.”