A certain Hogwarts professor of runes

Chapter 738: Extra: Dursley

"Welcome to the midday news," a host wearing rimmed glasses appeared on the television screen. "Just a month ago, I was thinking the Quidditch World Cup was like it was in the next century, but in the blink of an eye, it's almost here."

"A lot has happened during this period. First of all, dignitaries from various countries have been appearing on the island, and we clearly don't have enough reporters."

"The Queen of England lives in the British Palace on the island, but many politicians and celebrities choose to experience the Magic Hotel. Prince Charles and Camilla quietly stayed in a snowy town that is a stark contrast to the current environment. It is worth mentioning that former Princess Diana lived in the botanical gardens on the other side of the island. She has been tirelessly promoting magical planting for years and has a close personal relationship with Karede Boubage, who was invited to go to the moon."

"The piano poet François Krutoy has just finished a concert, and in an interview he revealed that he will not be performing for the next month. 'A feast is just around the corner,' he said. Krutoy has an inextricable connection with magic, and since his hands were healed, he has produced a string of masterpieces. Without a doubt, magic is his muse."

"The Ancient Rune Association has released its New Year's Guide, expanding the original Ancient Rune Laws to twenty-two articles."

"Some people were worried about heavy rain, but our weather team was dispatched three days ago and changed the storm's angle; ultimately, it will pass us by."

"The Selma Lake Monster from Norway is experiencing acclimatization problems. Magizoologists Luna Lovegood and Rolf Scamander discovered that the creature is depressed because of the lack of freshwater on the island. The seawater purification department refused to give up its freshwater pool. Two days later, a spokesperson said the problem had been properly resolved: 'We've put it in the bathtub. The new problem is that it's now a bit shy, especially of creatures with flat beaks and black fur.'"

"...A conflict broke out between red-haired dwarves from Brazil and Irish leprechauns, followed by the arrival of American Iphamoni jungle goblins wielding small axes. The only saving grace was that their bows and arrows were confiscated, supposedly because they were poisonous. Apparently, the island's acting administrators were focused on the birthday parties of the eight million tourists and their youngest daughter. Someone suggested having the house-elves of the Future World Corporation keep an eye on those unruly fellows. This might be a good idea, but it could lead to even more disastrous consequences."

"At dawn today, a small boat approached the floating island. A burly man on board knocked out more than half of the Fijian mascot, the Dakuwaga (a shapeshifting creature that can transform into a shark or humanoid), which was kept in the surrounding waters. His roars attracted the attention of the island's patrol personnel. The man identified himself as the Hogwarts Professor of the Magical Creatures Department and the Keeper of the Forbidden Forest. He was accompanied by an elegant and tall woman; they were supposed to arrive a week ago, but they got lost along the way due to a sudden downpour..."

After a flurry of chatter, the host looked up: "Let's switch our focus to the tourists on the island. Tus, can you hear me?"

The camera cuts to an outdoor scene, where a middle-aged man appears on screen. His bald head shines like it's been waxed in the sunlight, giving the impression of being energetic and talkative.

"Hello, Reed."

"I'm currently at the memorial hall on the floating island. It documents verifiable magical history from around the world and is one of the most worthwhile attractions to visit. The collection of books and various video materials is extensive; even a cursory glance would take two or three hours. There's also a free restaurant, but I doubt anyone would come in just for a free lunch. It's worth mentioning that Mr. Hep and his colleagues and students occupy a separate floor of exhibition space—sir, may I interview you?"

Dudley stared blankly at the reporter, the commemorative hat falling to the ground—"Pick me up from the ground, kid!" the hat shouted—he wasn't as fat as he used to be. Although his experience in boxing during high school hadn't made him an outstanding boxer or rugby player, it had at least stopped his ever-increasing weight.

"...Listen, I won't waste a single penny...What's wrong, Dali?" Vernon and Penny walked over. Vernon's mouth was greasy, and he was wiping it with a tissue. He froze when he saw the reporters and cameras.

"You're together? A family?" The reporter's intrigued gaze shifted from the constantly shouting hat on the ground. "Great, there's no doubt you're all very interested in magic—"

"What?" Vernon roared, his eyes wide. "Oh, cough cough cough, yes..." he mumbled, pulling Penny with one hand and Dudley with the other, ready to leave. But the reporter had already handed the microphone to Dudley, who was closest to him. "Would it be convenient to answer a few questions? It won't take up too much time."

Dali stammered, his eyes darting around, but the reporter said, "Excellent."

"Where are you from?"

Dudley paused for a few seconds, then muttered, "Britain, I guess."

"Britain?" The reporter's eyes lit up. "I interviewed Andy Murray last week. He became the first Briton to win 14 titles in the Open Era last year, but his form has been a bit sluggish in the first half of this year. He changed coaches and invited a former St. Mungo therapist to join his team. He and his girlfriend are on the floating island—didn't notice? Not interested in tennis? What a pity. That report was one of my proudest works, including his relationship with a rather controversial journalist."

He clicked his tongue, somewhat disappointed by the Dursleys' reaction, but quickly recovered. "Alright, alright, let's continue... Since you're from England, you must have gone to the third floor of the memorial, right? That's the main attraction."

"Um……"

"Who are you interested in? Are they the two archmages, or Ms. McGonagall, the current headmistress who spearheaded the exchange program between eleven magic schools? The mysterious and controversial Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and Divination professor, or another pair—the enormous Charms professor and the Magical Creatures professor? The Potions professor, guarded by giants and skilled in social maneuvering, the Herbalism professor who has returned as an Auror—"

Dudley racked his brains trying to think of something to say, but couldn't get a word in edgewise.

"Of course, I think you might be more interested in another group of people who have so profoundly impacted our lives—the Weasley brothers, the most popular magical merchants who spread the concept of pranks to more than seventy countries; the Diggory couple, who made great strides in the fields of medicine and public welfare; Mr. Malfoy, the director of the first wizard-Muggle joint hospital; Krivat, who oversaw the business of thousands of branches of the 'Futureworld' company; and Kremy Vera, who led a research and development team of two thousand people..."

"Harry Potter," Dudley said.

"Harry Potter!" the reporter exclaimed dramatically, clearly having deliberately kept the name for this moment. "Yes, that name has been repeatedly mentioned lately, and the public is scrutinizing him. He's also quite legendary, playing a crucial role in the downfall of some dark lord, I think his name was Voldemort? Sorry, I'm not very familiar with foreign names… It's said that during the most terrifying period, even his name couldn't be mentioned, and he was referred to as the Mysterious Man… He killed many people, including Potter's parents—"

Penny's expression was a little strange, and Vernon held her hand tightly.

"But all of this is in the Harry Potter movies, haha. I remember the memorial used some movie clips because some people didn't want the photos to be shown publicly." The reporter said with some emotion, "I wonder what Mr. Potter's relationship with his Muggle relatives is like? You know, people generally think his aunt and uncle are hopeless, but there's some expectation for that cousin who seems to have obesity..."

Fernon's face turned a deep purplish-red, and Aunt Penny's lips were pressed tightly together, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes.

“I think—well, they get along pretty well,” Dudley finally got a chance to speak, his first fluent response since the interview began. “Their kids play together, and they sit together drinking beer and watching games, all sorts of things—boxing, football, Quidditch…and discussing Chocolate Frog cards, the hardest ones to collect: Felix Heap and Gellert Grindelwald, and Ron Weasley cards that are practically everywhere…” he went on and on, while Vernon, who had been muttering to himself, stood frozen in place, Penny looking just as shocked as he was.

The reporter paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "That's a good idea." Turning to the camera, he joked, "To all the filmmakers, if you're planning to respond to fans' requests for a sequel, why not take out some paper and write it down?" He then handed the microphone to Vernon, "Sir, I see you've been wanting to speak, you seem eager—"

Finnon suddenly clenched his purple fist, and the reporter shrank back a step.

"Can't wait? Absolutely!" he roared, spitting everywhere. "I'm so happy! I love magic, my whole family loves magic! Are you satisfied now...?"

The camera shifted from the memorial to the studio. "Thank you, Tus, for the live report," the host said calmly, adjusting his glasses. "Next, we will broadcast a series of short videos featuring celebrities who have warmly sent their blessings to the opening ceremony of this World Cup."

In front of the television, Ron asked Harry:

"You guys really drank beer and watched the game together? And discussed Chocolate Frog cards?"

Harry shrugged.

"Okay," Ron muttered, "I have two Grindelwalds, but don't expect me to trade them to him."

The two entered the conference room. Harry took a deep breath and looked at the hundreds of familiar faces in the room. He felt as if he had returned to his school days, but now he was facing a much more complex situation.

Fred and George exchanged a wink, removed their black bowler hats, and said, "Greetings to the esteemed Lord Island." The two men wore brown suits with yellow stripes and brightly colored polka-dot ties, making them look rather comical.

"Oh, don't cause trouble," Percy said. But the brief interruption quickly calmed Harry's tense heart. His gaze slowly moved, looking at Sirius, Mrs. Burns, Lupin, Tonks, Hagrid, Professor McGonagall, the Weasleys, Ginny, and especially Dobby... They were all looking at Harry with gentle, trusting eyes, and a warm feeling welled up inside Harry.

He reached out and tapped the wall behind him, eliciting gasps from the crowd. A huge map, seamlessly integrated with the wall, slowly emerged, revealing the outline of the floating island and the surrounding 1,000 square kilometers. Dense ink marks moved across the wall.

"Here's the thing..." Harry began.

"Where's Hermione?" Percy's wife Penelope quietly asked Luna. Luna cheerfully replied, "The Grangers are here."

Penelope was somewhat taken aback.

"It turns out," Fred said quietly, "even the greatest wizards can't escape the pressure from their in-laws. I wish I were there to liven things up... I personally think Professor Hyp isn't good at telling jokes."

"Felix has a good sense of humor," Luna said fairly.

(End of this chapter)