Chapter 331: The Best Birthday
Chapter 331: The Best Birthday
When Harry appeared in the kitchen, none of the Dursleys looked at him or mentioned his birthday, which suited Harry just fine. He certainly didn't want another pair of Uncle Vernon's smelly socks as a birthday gift; one such terrible present was more than enough.
Uncle Vernon was reading the newspaper, Aunt Petunia was cutting a dry grapefruit, and cousin Dudley had his flabby arms sprawled on the table, his face twisted in a huff.
Ever since Dudley returned with a shameful report card and a lot of extra weight, his good days were over. He could have tried to cry, and Aunt Petunia, being very empathetic, would have shed a few tears and quickly give in to all of Dudley's demands. This was his usual tactic. However, underneath the report card, the nurse from Smeltings had carefully added a few lines, gently reminding his parents that if Dudley continued to gain weight, it could affect his health, and the school's uniform store no longer had clothes that fit him.
The nurse had also included a diet plan, and at Aunt Petunia's insistence, to take care of Dudley's feelings, the entire family had to follow the new diet regimen. The results were noticeable; Uncle Vernon's chin had shrunk, making his beard look more flowing and fluffy.
But Harry didn't care at all. Even before receiving any birthday gifts, he would head to Sirius's place for a proper breakfast. He couldn't wait to imagine where Sirius would take him for the day. Sirius had recently found a motorcycle, and in his godfather's gleaming eyes, Harry saw a hint of Hagrid.
"More grapefruit!"
Dudley said angrily, perfectly inheriting Uncle Vernon's small eyes and physique.
Harry happily thought to himself as he sniffed the tasteless food on his plate, unable to resist a burp. Just a moment ago, he had eaten two large pieces of cream cake and was now feeling a bit full.
"Dear?" Aunt Petunia said patiently, "We agreed to follow the diet plan the school nurse sent—"
But Dudley wasn't listening. He finished his portion in two bites and glared at Harry's plate with his small eyes, even though Harry's grapefruit was much smaller. His gaze then fell on Harry's lips, which had suspicious food stains.
"He's hiding food", Dudley said, pointing his carrot-like finger with certainty.
Harry quickly wiped his mouth, realizing he had been careless when he touched the sticky cream.
"What?" Aunt Petunia asked, confused.
However, Dudley stared at Harry with a greedy look, as if he were a piece of cream cake. A shadow fell over Harry's heart as he faced a difficult choice. If Dudley really wanted to take his cake, should he threaten him with his wand?
'Here, there's no Sirius, no spare wand, and no excuse. If I use magic, the Ministry of Magic will trace it back to me...'
At that moment, a loud horn sounded from outside, followed by the roar of a motorcycle engine. Uncle Vernon exploded, angrily shouting, "That damn murderer, that scum... can't he be quiet for once!"
Aunt Petunia looked around in terror, worried that the neighbors might notice.
"Sirius is not a murderer", Harry said coldly.
"Then make that damn... guy... stop!" Uncle Vernon growled, his veins bulging, and Harry was a bit afraid. He walked to the window and waved at Sirius.
The horn stopped.
Aunt Petunia gasped, as if she had been holding her breath, and Harry hesitated, unsure whether to mention his birthday. He thought it was unnecessary to make a big deal out of it. Aunt Petunia gave Harry a fierce glare, and Uncle Vernon couldn't hold back any longer. "What are you waiting for? Get out of my sight!" he roared.
At that moment, Dudley chimed in, "Your godfather... Sirius is waiting for you."
This statement seemed more powerful than the blare of Sirius's horn. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia stared at Dudley in shock. They never mentioned Sirius's name, and if they had to, they referred to him as "the one in prison", "the murderer", or simply "the hippie is here."
Harry's mind raced as his eyes met Dudley's. He suddenly understood what Dudley was up to and hurriedly said, "I'll go upstairs to get something—"
He returned to his room and stuffed the books and belongings he had brought from school under the bed. Then, he looked at the pile of candies and snacks on the bed, feeling a bit worried. On the table, there were three large cakes, one of which was already opened.
After a few seconds, Harry had a good idea. He took out the Golden Snitch Sirius had given him and started stuffing the snacks and candies inside. However, when it came to the cakes, he had some trouble and could only fit one in.
He had to stuff the remaining two cakes under the bed, hiding them behind the suitcase. After completing this, Harry patted his hands in satisfaction. If Dudley sneaked in, he wouldn't find anything. Normally, there was no such worry because the Dursleys considered his room a breeding ground for disease and would quicken their pace when passing by.
But as far as he knew, hungry animals were the most dangerous and irrational. In other words, the same applied to hungry pigs.
Before leaving, Harry hesitated for a moment. Uncle Vernon was already calling from downstairs, so he didn't have time to think. He opened the Golden Snitch and shook out a handful of snacks, a Cauldron Cake, a Fizzing Whizbee, and a few other items. Without looking closely, he placed the candies in a visible spot.
Hurrying downstairs, Harry saw Uncle Vernon pointing at the open door without saying a word. As he passed the dining table, he noticed that the quarter of a grapefruit on his plate had disappeared. He grinned and walked out the door.
Sirius had been waiting for a while, leaning against a formidable motorcycle that roared with a low growl from the exhaust. Harry climbed onto the back seat, and Sirius revved the engine. The speed picked up quickly, and the wind whipped through Harry's hair as Privet Drive receded behind them. Harry shouted excitedly, "Where are we going?"
"London", Sirius roared back. "I have a full plan."
...
They had a fantastic day, exploring half of London. By evening, Sirius took him for a ride along the Thames, where the water shimmered with golden light. Harry's stomach was still full of steak and oysters.
At seven o'clock, they returned to Sirius's rented house, but Harry didn't want to go back just yet. When Sirius invited him to play Wizard's Chess, Harry eagerly agreed.
Harry mercilessly won three games against his godfather, forcing Sirius to cheat and scatter the chessboard. So, they ended up huddled on the sofa watching TV.
It wasn't until nearly ten o'clock that Mrs. Figg from next door knocked on the door, complaining about the noise. Harry realized it was time to head back.
The lights were still on at Number 4 Privet Drive, which puzzled Harry. When he pushed the door open, he saw Uncle Vernon and Dudley squeezed on the sofa watching a football match. He sighed in relief, realizing it wasn't as bad as he had feared. He noticed Dudley's guilty expression as he turned away.
"Get back to your room and don't disturb Petunia", Uncle Vernon whispered.
Harry returned to his room and opened the door. The pile of snacks was indeed gone, but when he hurriedly checked under the bed, the cakes were still there, untouched.
He had overreacted...
Harry suddenly realized that Dudley couldn't bend down, let alone squeeze under the bed. He would be stuck. As he lay in bed, Harry couldn't help but replay the day's memories. He had to admit, it was the best birthday he had ever had.
This chapter describes Harry's life at the Dursleys' house, his birthday with Sirius, and Dudley's antics. I'd like to ask how everyone feels about Dudley.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
