Home!

4 Privet Drive

Second floor room.

Harry sat on the edge of the bed, pondering the universe.

And the ultimate secret of magic.

Commonly known as -- spacing out.

Hedwig the owl stood on the window, staring with her big, bright eyes, and made a cooing sound.

This means I'm hungry.

Back at Hogwarts, there was a cat named Bobocha who liked to bother the owls in the aviary.

It also went with Mrs. Norris and their brood to pluck owl feathers to line their nest.

The Hogwarts bullies... truly deserving of their name.

But after getting to know it for a while, Hedwig found herself to be just like it and picked up some bad habits as well.

for example...

I haven't eaten in five minutes, Laozi 'm starving!

But Harry had no sense of observation at all; instead of moving, he continued to drift off into thought.

Hedwig mumbled for a while, then seemed a little impatient.

That day, standing at the window, I saw humans on TV saying:

A tendency to daydream is a symptom of epilepsy.

Is the pet owner having epilepsy?

Hedwig flapped her wings and circled around the room.

As it flew onto Harry's head, it gently lifted its plump rump, flicked its tail, and flung down a pile of freshly made "Jinkela."

Snap!

It landed right in Harry's messy hair.

Harry shuddered and was jolted awake.

He touched his head... Ah!!!

Harry rushed to wash his hair, and when he returned to the room, Hedwig had already fled the crime scene.

(Hedwig: Her achievements remain hidden!)

Harry glanced at the clock on the wall; he thought he had been sitting there for an hour, but it had only been ten minutes.

Harry couldn't help but sigh, and sat down on the edge of the bed again.

Enduring the time is also a skill.

Ron can drift into a daze anytime, anywhere, and then drift off into a state of mind for an hour without interruption.

This is an amazing skill! You can perfectly slack off during class or even at work.

Unfortunately, Harry has only scratched the surface and hasn't even grasped the basics, let alone mastered Ron's essence.

At this moment, he especially needs to "distract himself" to pass the time and make night come quickly.

Because... at that time, he would be able to leave this house.

It's not a literal departure, but a permanent departure, never to return!

In other words, by tonight, 4 Privet Drive —the place he had lived for sixteen years—would no longer be his home.

Harry couldn't wait.

He had heard William describe Muggle relativity before:

A man sitting opposite a beautiful woman for an hour will feel as if only a minute has passed.

But if you let him sit on the stove for a minute, he'll feel like more than an hour has passed.

Harry wished Ginny or Cho were here with him right now, lying... oops, sitting on the edge of the bed.

He definitely won't do anything; he'll just quietly watch the two of them, hoping time will pass faster.

With nothing to do, Harry left his room and headed downstairs.

When he entered the living room, he saw his uncle's family packing their things, seemingly preparing to move.

They are indeed moving, and they will be leaving at the same time tonight.

After catching a glimpse of Harry, Uncle Vernon puffed out his fat belly, hesitated for a moment, and then, still unwilling to give up, asked:

"Kid, do we... have to leave?"

"Yes!" Harry explained calmly.

"I've said it many times: once I turn seventeen, the protective spell on me will be broken, and you and I will be exposed."

Professor Dumbledore believed that Voldemort would target them, either by torturing them, interrogating them about their whereabouts, or by taking them hostage so that he would rush to their rescue.

"You must hide. Order of the Phoenix will help you and provide the best and most secure protection."

Uncle Vernon didn't say anything, but paced back and forth.

He was reluctant to leave this place, reluctant to move out of the house he had lived in for more than ten years.

Vernon was panting heavily, his thick black mustache heaving, and his large face turned purplish-red.

"Alright, we accept this protection. But why can't we have the Stark protect us?"

We can stay at his house.

Vernon had seen William in the news reports and knew that he knew the Queen.

He certainly preferred this boy to any other wizard.

Harry barely managed to refrain from rolling his eyes, and he said impatiently:

"As I've said before, William is very busy. The newspapers have been reporting recently that he's at war."

He has so many responsibilities; he doesn't have time to protect you.

"But our safety is important too!" Vernon muttered.

"Oh, since you're so important, why don't you call the Muggle Prime Minister and have him protect you?" Harry said sarcastically.

He was also taken aback. He didn't know when he had become "Sirius-like."

Uncle Vernon was so embarrassed he couldn't save face, his face turning bright red.

"Dad," Dudley suddenly shouted, "I want to go with those people from the Order of the Phoenix."

Harry raised an eyebrow, looking at his older cousin with some surprise.

Dudley seems to have changed since the Dementor attack two years ago.

It doesn't matter though...

He will part ways with his aunt, uncle, and cousin tonight—never to see them again.

However, Harry suddenly realized that this was something he had been longing for for over a decade...

Now that it's finally about to happen, I can't feel happy at all.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Harry walked over, opened the door, and an excited voice suddenly rang in his ears.

"Harry Potter!"

A short man wearing a light purple top hat bowed to him. "It is an honor to meet you!"

"Thank you, Dedalus." Harry somewhat awkwardly. "Come in quickly."

The visitors were Hestia and Dedalus. According to their pre-arranged mission, they would escort Aunt's family to a safe place.

Harry was escorted away by Mad-Eye.

Dedalus strode into the living room and said quickly:

"We will Apparition with your aunt's family to a safe place."

"And you, Harry," Hestia continued, "Will be coming to pick you up in Mad-Eye, Apparition."

However, if he hasn't shown up by the agreed time, then something might have happened.

Don't wait for him. This Portkey will be sent to the Order of the Order of the Phoenix headquarters. You know how to use it, right?

Harry nodded and took the worn-out soda can.

Dedalus then turned to the Dursley, "How's it going? Is your luggage all packed? Are we ready to leave?"

Uncle Vernon said loudly, "Goodbye then, son."

He stretched out his right arm, wanting to shake hands with Harry, but at the last moment, seemingly unable to face him, he clenched his fist and swung it back and forth like a metronome.

Dudley stood there, his mouth slightly open, trying to find the right words, but he didn't know what to say.

After a moment of struggle, Dudley murmured:

"Thank you, Harry, thank you for saving my life."

"You can't say that," Harry shook his head, "Back then, the Dementor were trying to steal your soul..."

"But..."

Dudley's ability to express emotions seemed to have been completely exhausted; after a thousand words, he finally asked simply:

"It's alright if we meet again, Harry?"

Harry wanted to say "Never see you again," but the words that came out were—

"Certainly!"

Dudley stretched out his large, pink hand.

Harry shook Dudley's hand, and the two hugged each other. "Take care, Dudley."

Dudley wiped away his tears and then staggered out of the living room.

Aunt Petunia was the last to leave. Before she did, she stopped, turned around, and scrutinized Harry.

For a moment, Harry had a very strange feeling, as if Aunt Petunia wanted to say something to him.

But she hesitated, saying nothing, and simply took something out of her pocket and shoved it into Harry's arms.

After doing all this, Petunia abruptly turned her head, rushed out of the room, and chased after her husband.

Harry looked down and froze.

It was an old photograph.

Or rather, it's two photos glued together.

One photo shows Dudley being held by Petunia and Vernon, with his grandparents standing behind them.

Another photo shows Lily and James holding young Harry in their arms.

The two families have never taken a photo together, nor have they ever had the chance to get together.

It didn't exist before, it doesn't exist now, and it certainly won't exist in the future.

Yet, they were still pieced together in this clumsy way, as if a family photo had been taken.

Harry stared at the photo, his gaze lingering on his still-youthful uncle and aunt.

Vernon must have held him back then, and maybe he peed on him while changing his diaper.

Petunia must have held him, and even taught him to call her "Auntie."

But he kept babbling "Mama".

And Dudley, the two might have fought each other as babies.

Harry clutched the photograph, his lips trembling, and closed his eyes.

Although Dumbledore and William said nothing, he had a premonition that he would have to confront Voldemort.

Summer is here, Harry doesn't know if he'll ever see autumn again, if he'll ever be able to return to Hogwarts to complete his seventh year, or if he'll ever be able to confess his feelings to Ginny.

After all, he has now lost even his only home.

Harry's face was covered in tears.