Interrogation

The atmosphere at the dinner table seemed harmonious, but beneath the surface, currents churned. The Dursleys desperately tried to showcase their "respectable" lives. Vernon incessantly bragged about Grunnings and its drill orders, while Petunia flaunted her spotless house and exquisite food. Mr. Anthony Kirill plastered on a fake business smile, barely keeping up, wishing only for the ordeal to end quickly.

Dudley, eager to please this "important guest," pulled out all the stops. He swallowed a large chunk of roast meat and said to Anthony with a greasy mouth, "Mr. Kirill, do you know? Once, my teacher asked us to write an essay titled 'The Person I Admire Most,' and I wrote about you! I said you started from nothing and are a role model in the business world!"

Anthony's mouth twitched, and he forced a smile. "Uh... thank you, son..." he mumbled. What does he even know about me? He probably doesn't even know what my company does, he thought.

Just as this pretense of harmony reached its peak, the unexpected happened!

Above the dining room table, next to the ornate crystal chandelier, the air suddenly warped! Immediately after, a large plate of wobbling pink pudding, topped with a dollop of cream, appeared as if from nowhere and hurtled directly towards Anthony Kirill's head!

"Watch out!" Silas reacted with lightning speed. Without even looking up, relying solely on his perception of magical fluctuations, he instantly extended his hand and precisely caught the plate just inches from his father's head! The cream jiggled but not a drop spilled.

The entire event unfolded in the blink of an eye!

Anthony recoiled violently, nearly falling off his chair, and blurted out, "Holy hell!" Still shaken, he stared at the pudding in his son's hand, then at the ceiling, utterly bewildered.

Silas's expression, however, instantly turned grim. He stared at the spot in the air where the pudding had appeared, his eyes cold, and growled word by word:

"Dobby..."

He understood immediately! It was the house-elf Dobby causing trouble! It was trying to prevent Harry from returning to Hogwarts, but nearly hit Mr. Anthony instead!

"You dare throw pudding at my dad?" Silas's voice was laced with dangerous fury. "Are you tired of living?!"

The Dursleys were stunned by the sudden "falling object" incident. Vernon's face turned puce, Petunia let out a short shriek, and Dudley stood gaping. Vernon, seeing Anthony's shaken expression and Silas's murderous glare, felt a jolt of dread: It's over! This business deal... is probably ruined!

Silas ignored the flustered Dursleys. With a "whoosh," he stood up and strode out of the dining room, heading straight for the second floor! He knew instinctively where Harry would be confined – the smallest guest room!

"BANG!!"

He forcefully kicked open the locked, flimsy bedroom door!

The room was small and dark. Harry Potter sat on the bed, a look of "I knew it" resignation on his face.

"Silas," Harry sighed, "I heard your voice..."

Silas didn't have time for pleasantries. He pointed downstairs and demanded furiously, "Potter! What the hell is going on?! First, you haven't replied to my letters for a month, and I'll deal with that later! Second, now! Immediately! Tell me! Where is that bastard house-elf who threw pudding at my dad?!"

Harry was startled by Silas's accusatory tone and quickly explained, "Wait! Silas! Your letters! The letters you wrote me, I didn't not reply, they never reached me! That house-elf named Dobby intercepted them! He stole all the letters sent to me!"

Silas froze, his anger subsiding slightly. He looked into Harry's eyes, confirming he wasn't lying. If Dobby had intercepted the mail, then Harry's "disappearance" was understandable. His main target shifted from Harry to the mischievous elf.

"Alright," Silas's tone softened a little. "That explanation convinces me. It seems the culprit is that little brat Dobby... He ran off, but he'll definitely show up again later."

He glanced at the cramped, shabby room, which was worse than the Dursleys' cupboard under the stairs, and then thought of the hypocritical family downstairs. He made a decision instantly.

"You're not staying in this dump," Silas said decisively. "Go to Ron's place. Anyway, judging by my dad's expression, this deal with the Dursleys is definitely off. Once we leave, you'll be in for it if you stay here; the Dursleys' anger will be more than you can handle."

Without giving Harry time to hesitate, he raised his hand and drew a circle in the air! Golden sparks erupted, and a stable portal instantly opened in Harry's room! Through the opening, the Weasleys' signature, crooked but cozy kitchen at The Burrow was clearly visible. He could even hear Mrs. Weasley's nagging and the clatter of pots and pans!

"Here, go through," Silas pointed to the portal.

Harry looked at the portal leading to The Burrow, his eyes instantly lighting up! The chance to leave the Dursleys immediately and go to his true "home" was too tempting!

But he glanced at the suitcase by the foot of the bed and Hedwig's empty cage (Hedwig had gone out to hunt), and hesitated. "But my things..."

"Stop whining!" Silas interrupted impatiently. "I'll carry your luggage! You go first! Hurry!"

Harry no longer hesitated. He gave Silas a grateful look, took a deep breath, and stepped through the golden portal! His figure instantly vanished into The Burrow's kitchen.

Silas watched Harry leave safely and casually closed the portal. He easily picked up Harry's battered suitcase and carried Hedwig's empty cage.

"Done," he nodded with satisfaction, then turned and went downstairs, ready to "have a good talk" with the Dursleys about the house-elf who threw pudding, and also... to thoroughly ruin his father's predictably disastrous business deal.

For Silas, the way to solve problems was always the most direct and effective one. Harry's summer misery, thanks to his unconventional friend, had ended early.