The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 273 The Shocking Change on Privet Road

The moon hangs high in the sky, and the lights are dazzling.

At Malfoy Manor, amidst the clinking of glasses, everything seemed relaxed and harmonious.

But within this harmony, there was always a hint of stiffness. The ingrained hierarchy among the snakes prevented them from rashly disturbing the peace.

In this atmosphere, Ino was happy to relax, holding a wine glass and sitting in a corner far from the center, watching the lively banquet like a spectator.

This relaxed and dreamlike scene is the magical world he truly yearns for.

Just like the first year, it was simple and happy.

"I never imagined that one day I would attend a Slytherin banquet!" Neville raised his glass and looked around with a sigh.

Hearing the sound, Ino turned around. Neville, a fourth-year student, was no longer the chubby little boy who buried his head in his hands and cried. He was over 1.6 meters tall, and although he didn't look particularly imposing, he did have some of the bearing of a Gryffindor warrior.

"The point isn't Slytherin, the point is we're friends." Ino smiled and raised his glass; the butterbeer shimmered with the color of Felix Felicis under the magic lamp.

"Navie, don't worry! Magic is amazing, and some things will get better."

He had heard about Neville's parents a long time ago and had also thought about how to resolve the matter.

It was like the first Potions class before the start of the semester, facing Snape's probing questions.

Even after all this time, he could still clearly remember his answer: the potion was to prevent the tragedy from happening.

The same applies to potions and magic.

Therefore, we have the current answer: to use magic to help as many people as possible.

On the other side, Neville also sensed the sincerity in that sincerity.

"Thank you, Ino. But I don't ask for too much. I'll be content as long as they're safe and sound, and I can see them every year during the holidays."

Faced with this continuation of kinship, Ino did not answer, but reached out and gently patted Neville's shoulder to comfort him.

He wouldn't offer too many words of comfort before he had a clue, lest he give Neville hope only to find it unfulfilled.

Let's leave the topic at that.

Neville didn't bring it up again; they both tacitly understood each other.

"Are they just naturally good at socializing?" Neville wondered, glancing at the two lively figures at the banquet.

George and Fred, each carrying a canvas bag slung across their shoulder, weaved through the crowd. It seemed they had returned to their old business, selling various flowers, accessories, and delicate hair clips that girls loved.

"Hahaha, they always bring joy! That's a good thing!"

Ino also spotted the twins; Fred was smiling and trying to sell hair clips to Milison.

Milison Burst, the female Slytherin version of Goyle, looked at Fred with a shy and timid expression, as if this was not a hair clip, but more like a token of love.

After the banquet began, everyone found something that interested them, even Percy, who chatted with Marcus, his former enemy.

This scene is truly moving.

It seems that the rivalry between colleges gradually fades with age, and this fading is particularly noticeable after graduation.

Just like now, a former Gryffindor prefect and a former Slytherin Quidditch captain.

If this were in a castle, the two would bicker and argue whenever they met, but who would have thought that after graduation they would sit together and chat over drinks?

……

Meanwhile, in faraway London.

Unlike the bustling Malfoy Manor.

The atmosphere in the room at No. 4, Ligustrum Road, Huijin District, was somewhat somber.

Penny covered her mouth in terror, her eyes filled with obvious panic.

Her husband, Fernón, lay motionless on the ground.

On the other side, Dudley, despite his tall stature, huddled in a corner like a hamster, as if that gave him enough sense of security.

In the center of the room, Harry held his wand, his scarlet eyes scanning his surroundings like a hungry python, his expression one of wanting to devour someone all too obvious.

Soon, Harry's gaze turned to Petunia, who was standing to the side.

But that terrified expression and the silent tears seemed to have touched something. In just an instant, the crimson in Harry's eyes gradually faded, and his gaze became clear.

"this……"

The fallen uncle, the weeping aunt, and the terrified Dudley.

Harry stared blankly at the wand in his hand. He didn't know what had happened, or why things had turned out this way.

Before dinner, Uncle Vernon routinely criticized magic, which was quite normal in the past.

But this time, for no apparent reason, Harry felt a surge of disgust. He felt that a Muggle who knew nothing about magic dared to speak so arrogantly about Hogwarts and all wizards.

This made him feel insulted, which then fueled his extreme anger.

And so, the memory ends here as well.

But considering the current situation, the answer is already clear: he caused all of this.

Thinking of this, Harry could no longer hold onto his wand, letting it fall to the floor with a crisp sound.

As the wand fell, Penny, who had been silently shedding tears, seemed to come alive. She ran quickly to the wand, picked it up, and held it tightly in her hand, refusing to let go no matter what.

"Save Vernon, please! You're in trouble! You need to write to them, to Dumbledore, to Severus, or someone else, and ask them to help you."

Although she was a Muggle, Petunia knew more about wizards than anyone else. Especially during her school days, Lily would always tell her a lot about magic during summer vacations.

"I'll write it down right away!" Harry nodded silently. "Uncle Vernon is alright, he just fainted."

After saying that, Harry turned around and walked straight to the storage room on the second floor, where Hedwig was placed.

Even without Aunt Penny reminding him, he knew he had a serious problem.

Just like the stories Ron told in the dormitory, many people are often cursed by dark wizards without their knowledge, which causes their personalities to change drastically.

As Harry walked down the stairs, unfamiliar images kept flashing through his mind—images from his dreams.

Since the start of the school year last year, he has been having strange dreams in which he seems to transform into a winding, crawling snake, walking alone in a dense forest.

Although it was a bit strange, just like the pain from the scar on his forehead before, he didn't intend to tell anyone.

But today, things seem a little different.

Seeing Uncle Vernon lying on the ground, Harry was genuinely grateful that he didn't know much magic, only a few simple spells; otherwise…

Thinking of another terrible outcome, Harry unconsciously quickened his pace.

Push open the door to the storage room.

Hedwig, inside the cage, seemed to sense her owner's emotions and made a rare cooing sound.

……

Ten minutes later.

A pure white owl appeared silently in the sky over London.

Unlike other nocturnal owls that roam leisurely, the lithe figure in the sky seemed to be in a great hurry.

It flaps its wings incessantly, flying at an extremely high speed.

(End of this chapter)