Beside a narrow alley off Magnolia Crescent.
Harry was wondering whether he had activated the amulet himself or whether it had sensed the danger behind him and triggered automatically. Just as he was about to put some distance between himself and the threat while its protection lasted, the bird-headed figure spoke again in a muffled voice:
"Oh, sorry. I was busy earlier and forgot to take it off."
The bird-headed figure swept a hand across his face. The black, beaked mask vanished instantly, revealing a familiar face.
Harry cried out, "Lucien?!"
"Mm, good evening."
Lucien stood in the darkness, his outline faintly illuminated by the moonlight.
Harry looked up at Lucien, inexplicably reminded of Liuguang delivering his gift a few days earlier. Being startled by Lucien and his pet in quick succession over the past few days felt a little strange, even if they had both meant well.
He blinked, then quickly understood. Lucien must have been "called over" by the amulet.
So this was the "lifesaving effect" mentioned on the amulet's information card.
Were Protego and Impedimenta really just there to keep him alive until Lucien arrived?
That thought made Harry feel rather safe, though he also felt a pang of regret at having used up the amulet so carelessly.
"Out for a stroll instead of sleeping at this hour?" Lucien asked.
The casual teasing helped Harry relax. He pressed his lips together, then briefly recounted what had happened at the Dursley family's house.
From Marge's arrival and her remarks at the dinner table to the glass shattering and her floating up like a balloon, his account was far from smooth. He skipped some parts and repeated others, but Lucien did not interrupt, simply listening quietly until he finished.
When he reached the part where he had forced his