The sudden knocking on the door made the chubby Dudley involuntarily shiver. The pig's tail behind him hadn't been cut off yet, making him instinctively try to find somewhere to hide.
Vernon, who had been mocking Harry just moments before, fell silent now. With a slightly panicked expression, he exchanged a glance with his wife, Petunia. Then, glaring fiercely at Harry, he stood up and walked tremulously toward the door.
*If it's that person from Hogwarts...* Vernon thought to himself that he must demand an apology, have them remove the pig's tail from Dudley's backside, and secure compensation for his son's emotional distress.
On second thought, however, Vernon felt that wasn't very realistic. Right now, he just hoped the visitor was only a child so he wouldn't have to be on pins and needles.
Yet reality proved him wrong. When the door swung open and he saw the adult standing on the threshold, he shivered involuntarily.
"I... er..." Vernon stood silent for a full two seconds, his small eyes fixed dead on Kemore's face as if trying to recall something.
Accustomed to all sorts of situations, Kemore merely smiled politely, then bowed slightly and introduced himself with impeccable manners: "Hello, sir. My name is Kemore, Kemore Grenefy, and this is my son, Lindy."
"Hello... hello to you, sir." Nodding rather stiffly, Vernon still seemed to be trying to place him. Just as Kemore was about to state his business, Vernon suddenly widened his small eyes and blurted out in astonishment, "I know you! Councillor Grenefy!"
Giving a polite smile, Kemore made a gesture asking him to keep his voice down and said mildly, "Hello, sir. Actually, I'm visiting in a private capacity today."
"A private capacity?" Clearly missing the implication of Kemore's words, Vernon was still in a state of excitement. He turned and shouted into the house, "Petunia! It's Councillor Grenefy here to visit, quick, get some tea and snacks ready!"
Lindy trusted his father's abilities, so he simply followed along politely. As for Vernon leading the way—well, he was far too excited at the moment, seemingly forgetting entirely to ask why Kemore had come, until...
"Lindy!" Harry, who was being shooed back to his room, cried out in pleasant surprise from the cramped hallway of the Dursleys' house, and unable to contain his excitement, rushed over to hug Lindy.
Vernon, who had been chatting excitedly with Kemore, and Dudley, who was peering stealthily from the far end of the hallway, were instantly struck as if by a Petrificus Totalus spell.
The scene fell terrifyingly quiet for a moment. Fortunately, Kemore broke the deadlock in time.
"Ah, hahaha, Lindy, looks like you've found your little friend." Reaching out to pat Vernon's hefty arm, Kemore said courteously, "Well then, let the boys go play. You and I can talk about our business."
Kemore had no need for anyone to worry about his communication skills, so Lindy decisively pulled the somewhat bewildered Harry out of the front door. Next came their secret discussion time.
Basically speaking, he was using Harry as a banner to facilitate his own basic agenda. It was a mutual benefit arrangement: he could introduce Harry to the wizarding world more than half a week early, and Harry could help him acquire certain things he needed in the wizarding world.
Of course, he couldn't put it quite so bluntly. Lindy could only persuade Harry by talking about getting a better understanding of the wizarding world and looking out for each other. Fortunately, the Dursley family was thoroughly unlikable; upon hearing that Lindy could persuade his father to convince his uncle and let him enter that comfortable magical world ahead of schedule, Harry proved more eager than anyone.
"If that's true, that would be wonderful. You know what? Uncle Vernon won't even let me study magic, and he wants to restrict Hedwig, too." As he spoke, Harry glanced cautiously toward the front door, then asked uncertainly, "Do you really have a way to make your father persuade him?"
"I think it should be no problem, but you might need to make some preparations for our days in Diagon Alley."
Looking Harry up and down in his thoroughly ill-fitting clothes, Lindy said doubtfully, "You'll need to prepare at least a few changes of clothes."
It had to be said that Harry had had a terribly hard time of it lately. Judging by the size of these clothes, they were probably hand-me-downs discarded by that chubby boy they'd just seen. Realizing he was inadvertently reopening an old wound, Lindy added, "If possible, we'll head straight to Hogwarts from there."
What a wonderful proposition! Harry almost jumped for joy. Not having to return here before the start of term—he felt there could be no better news in the entire world.
"I'll go pack right now!" Before Lindy could say another word, Harry darted into the house like a gust of wind. Dudley, standing by the doorway, was startled and scrambled out of the way in a panic.
Bowing slightly toward the chubby boy, Lindy offered a very gentlemanly salute. Dudley instinctively shrank back toward the doorway, looking timid and cowed.
Yet while Harry was busy packing, Dudley finally seemed to find a shred of courage and asked with some hesitation, "Are you one of those freaks too?"
The phrasing could be said to be rude in the extreme, which was likely a matter of poor upbringing. Seeing that the boy at least wasn't acting overbearing, Lindy offered a benevolent reminder: "Don't slander a community you don't understand."
Pausing for a moment, seeing that Dudley still didn't quite grasp it, Lindy countered, "Do you like people calling you fat?"
Hearing this description, Dudley instantly grew displeased. Even his recent fear vanished as he angrily put his hands on his hips and retorted, "I'm just well-built."
"So we just have some abilities ordinary people don't possess."
Spreading his hands as if explaining, Lindy heard Kemore and Vernon walking toward the doorway, engaged in high-flown conversation.
"I must say, Mr. Dursley, your care for your family is truly admirable. Harry has grown up to this point under your care, and you've put a great deal of effort into it."
"Hahaha~ It's only right! We are family, after all!" Vernon puffed out his belly and laughed as if he truly had done countless good deeds. "For Harry to meet a distinguished person like you at his new school... and of course, your esteemed son, is truly his good fortune!"
"Please don't say that. It was Harry's humility and sincerity that won us over. I must say, your parenting has been a tremendous success."
Mutual flattery made them sound like kindred spirits. However, Harry, who had rushed to finish packing his luggage, felt a somewhat sour twist in his stomach upon hearing these words.
"Ah, Harry, are you all ready?" Seeing Harry carrying a large trunk and holding a birdcage, Vernon showed no trace of surprise. Far from offering to help, he reminded him, "You've encountered a benefactor, so make sure you study hard under young Mr. Lindy."
"Let me help you with that."
Promptly taking the birdcage from Harry, Kemore smoothly took hold of the heavy, awkward trunk. Lindy walked Harry all the way out to the car, turned back to offer Vernon one last polite bow, and promised, "Please rest assured, I will take good care of Harry."