Chapter 114: Chocolate
Lupin looked a bit disapproving, but after a moment of silence, he ultimately respected Harry's choice.
The Dursleys simultaneously let out a sigh of relief, but their expressions twisted when they remembered being "forgiven" by Harry.
"Um…"
Harry looked at Lupin, unsure how to address him, and turned to Wade for help.
"This gentleman is Remus Lupin, my tutor, and a close friend of your father's," Wade introduced. "You can trust him."
"Mr. Lupin." Harry pointed to the space under the stairs and asked, "Can you help me unlock this?"
"Of course."
Lupin was eager to do something for him at that moment. He immediately used an unlocking charm on the lock, glancing at the small, dark cupboard without paying it much mind.
Harry handed the Owl cage to Wade and crouched in front of the cupboard, pulling out various personal belongings—his Wand, Robes, Magic Books, Cauldron, Flying Broomstick, and, buried beneath everything, his Book of Friends.
As soon as summer vacation started, Vernon had locked all his things in this tiny cupboard. Harry had tried his best to at least save the Book of Friends from him…
"It's just one or two pieces of parchment!"
He couldn't reach the Book of Friends in Uncle Vernon's hand even by jumping, so he could only shout in anger.
But because Harry cared about it so much, Vernon was the first to snatch the Book of Friends and hide it in the deepest part of the cupboard.
"Don't even think about it!" Vernon yelled at him in a terrifying voice. "Don't you dare contaminate our home with your evil stuff!"
…
Harry shook his head, as if trying to shake out those terrible memories and the gloomy cupboard from his mind.
He haphazardly shoved everything into a box, then stood up with a relieved smile, saying, "Wade, Mr. Lupin, let's go."
He didn't look back at the pale, stiff Dursleys, nor did he bother with Dudley, who was trembling in the bathroom. With every step he took out of that house, happiness swelled in his heart.
Wade walked out with him and asked, "Did you hear everything I just said?"
"Mhm," Harry replied, his voice very soft.
"You should know that not just today, but until you turn eighteen, the Children's Act will protect your legal rights," Wade said.
The Dursleys' faces turned green; they looked like they wanted to shut him up.
Of course, Wade had said it specifically for them to hear.
Harry thought he could leave the Dursley home forever, but Wade knew that before he graduated, he would still have to return here to live for a period each year.
He reminded Harry, "Don't think that losing your Wand means you can't fight against adults. In the Muggle world, the law is a weapon that can protect you."
"I understand, thank you… Wade."
Harry said gratefully. No one had ever told him he could protect himself this way.
He certainly understood that Wade had essentially given him a powerful weapon… No one knew better than him how terrified Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were of their family being "different."
If the police came around their house, it would be no different than a death sentence for them.
Lupin silently followed behind them. As they were about to leave, he turned to look at the Dursleys.
"I know your relationship with Lily wasn't good back then," he said coldly. "But if… if something had happened to you both eleven years ago…"
"James and Lily would never have treated your son like this!"
…
The group walked in silence for a while.
Because of Lupin's last words, Harry's eyes suddenly became a little moist. He blinked hard, secretly wiping them quickly with his sleeve.
Wade and Lupin pretended not to notice.
Once the dampness in his eyes finally subsided, Harry heard Hedwig squawking loudly in her cage.
Wade raised the cage, frowning at the snowy Owl, and asked, "Is it hungry?"
"Oh, it's been cooped up too long!" Harry hurriedly pulled the latch on the cage. "It's been stuck in that cage for ages, it hasn't been able to stretch its wings in a long time."
As soon as the cage opened, Hedwig eagerly flew out, disappearing into the sky in an instant.
Harry watched it disappear, and his stomach suddenly rumbled. He quickly clutched his aching, hungry stomach, looking awkwardly at the other two.
"Uh… where are we going…?"
Wade and Lupin stopped, exchanging a look.
"To the farm first," Wade said. "Everyone's waiting for Harry there!"
Lupin nodded. "I also need some time to prepare. At least a house… uh…"
He said with some awkwardness, "Harry, I don't think I've asked yet, would you be willing to live with me?
"Although I'm still a stranger to you, James and I were very good friends… If you're willing, I'll take care of you like a father…"
"Live with you?" Harry said. "You mean… leave the Dursleys?"
"Of course." Lupin leaned down, speaking seriously. "I've been without a fixed home for over a decade, and I'm still living in a small pub now… but if you want, I can buy a house. It might not be in the best condition…"
"Of course I want to!" Harry interrupted him, excitedly. "Are you short on money? I have savings at Gringotts…"
As long as it meant leaving the Dursleys, Harry was naturally more than willing.
Although he didn't know Lupin well yet, he trusted him, and Lupin's impression on him was a thousand times better than Uncle Vernon's.
"You don't need to pay, Harry. That's your parents' inheritance."
Lupin chuckled wryly as he patted Harry's head. "Thanks to Wade, I have some savings now… and houses in the countryside aren't expensive."
He looked at both of them and said, "First, I'll take you two to Granian Farm… Once I'm ready, Harry, I'll come pick you up."
"That's great… a farm?"
Harry realized it belatedly.
"You missed a lot," Wade said. "We can talk on the way."
He raised his Wand, and in a moment, a purple bus popped out, with the roadside trash cans nimbly jumping out of the way, startling Harry.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard—"
A young man with prominent ears leaned out, but before he could finish his opening speech, Wade had already tossed a few Galleons and pushed Harry onto the bus.
"Granian Farm, please. And—chocolate too."
"Alright, alright… already a regular, are we?"
Stan Shunpike pocketed the Galleons and offered hot chocolate with a wide smile.
Harry eagerly took a large gulp. As the bitter-sweet aroma melted on his tongue, he felt his ravenous stomach finally find relief.
A new life seemed to be slowly unfolding before him.
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