Vernon cut the last lamb chop in half.
He chewed a few times, then wiped the corners of his mouth with his napkin.
"Down to business."
Harry put down his knife and fork.
Dudley was still gnawing scraps of meat off a bone, his ears pricked up.
Petunia stood up to clear the plates, but moved very slowly.
Vernon pushed his chair back two inches.
Harry was puzzled.
Dudley mumbled something.
"Which bit?"
Vernon reached under a sofa cushion and pulled out a newspaper.
It was not the Daily Prophet.
It was The Times.
The front-page headline stood out in bold-"Pound remains under pressure as manufacturing orders fall for third consecutive month."
"You should keep up with the news at all times."
Harry glanced at it.
"What does that have to do with us?"
Vernon snorted.
"Nothing to do with you."
"Everything to do with everyone."
He tapped the newspaper with his stubby fingers.
"Grunnings shut down two production lines last month."
"Not because the quality was bad."
"Because their customers' cash flow dried up."
"They couldn't pay for the goods."
"If they can't pay, they don't place orders."
"No orders, and the production lines sit idle."
"The lines sit idle, and the workers have to go home."
Dudley put down his bone.
"Dad, you're not going to get laid off, are you?"
Vernon glared at him.
"I work for myself now. I'm the boss."
"But bosses aren't made of iron, either."
He paused.
"Holmes talked to me about it last time."
Harry's fingers tightened slightly.
"What did he say?"
"He said things out there would get harder and harder."
Vernon's voice dropped a little.
"Whether it's on your side or ours."
"Both sides are changing."
"In different directions."
"But one thing's the same."
Harry waited for him to finish.