"Yes, very useful things."
Harry nodded, his gaze growing deep.
"And they were taught by a vampire who's lived for centuries. His name is Valerius, and he's a very particular gentleman. Apart from occasionally wanting to bite someone's neck, he's beyond reproach."
"A v-vampire?!"
Aunt Petunia's face instantly went deathly pale, and she shrank back, crashing straight into the umbrella stand in the hall.
A clatter rang out.
Harry paid no attention to Petunia's terror.
He took half a step back, put his left hand behind his back, and elegantly swept his right hand through a perfect arc in the air before pressing it to his chest.
Keeping his back straight, he inclined forward fifteen degrees.
It was a proper salute of the medieval nobility.
Elegant, ancient, and carrying a spine-chilling air, especially coming from Harry.
Valerius had indeed taught them this during the early stages of the Triwizard Tournament-even when facing an opponent, they had to maintain their dignity to the last.
"As you wish, Uncle Vernon. These are the manners we learned."
Still holding his bow, Harry raised his head and looked coldly at the dumbstruck Vernon.
"I hope you like them."
With that, he straightened up and picked up Hedwig's cage and his heavy trunk.
Before Vernon and Petunia could react, he slipped into the house like a slippery fish and dashed toward the stairs.
Only when Harry disappeared around the turn in the staircase did Vernon snap out of his daze.
The fury of being toyed with rushed straight to his head, turning his face a deep purple.
"BOY!!!"
Vernon roared toward the stairs, his neck flushing scarlet like an angry turkey.
"Don't bring any of that rubbish into this house! Especially those vampire rules! This is a respectable household!"
"Ah-!"
Hearing the word "vampire," Aunt