After mastering the Animagus transformation, Wade gradually fell in love with this mode of travel.
The damp and chilly morning air, the freedom of the wind, the city slowly awakening from its slumber, and the countryside below resembling an oil painting—all of this was an experience that humans walking on two legs could never comprehend.
Sometimes he encountered owls, and they would have a tussle; other times, flocks of pigeons would scatter in panic at his approach, which he found to be rare and amusing fun.
Ahead, a variety of neatly arranged city buildings came into view.
The River Thames flowed quietly, its waters weaving through narrow alleyways and expansive squares, forming the unique texture of the city. Glass facades reflected the morning sunlight, giving this ancient city a touch of brilliance and grandeur.
Wade gradually descended, following his bearings through the city center to Surrey, where he located Privet Drive.
Amid several rows of identical houses, one stood out, decorated in a mix of gold and red. The wall between its second-floor windows featured an enormous lion's head, lifelike in its design, as though it might roar at any moment.
Wade couldn't help but laugh, imagining the expressions on the Dursley couple's faces when they saw this house.
The peregrine falcon lowered its altitude again, landing in an alley between houses. Moments later, a thirteen-year-old boy emerged from the shadows.
Wade's attire was unremarkable even in a Muggle neighborhood. He walked up to the uniquely decorated house and knocked on the door.
Remus quickly opened it.
"Good morning, Wade," Remus said warmly. "I knew you'd be here any moment."
"Morning, Remus," Wade replied with a smile. "Has Harry arrived yet?"
"Not yet—"
Before Remus could finish, both of them turned their heads simultaneously.
"Excellent, go ahead—"
A loud, coarse voice bellowed from a nearby house:
"You'd better warn your freak friends not to visit my house in broad daylight! And don't come at night either! Keep your weirdo nonsense away from us! We're decent, normal people!"
"Fantastic! Why don't you come and say it yourself?"
Harry shouted back, not waiting for a response as he bolted out of his house and ran straight toward them.
Behind him, Vernon Dursley stood at his front door and glared furiously at their small group.
His earlier remarks had been deliberately aimed at Lupin and Sirius. Vernon, who both feared and loathed wizards, didn't dare confront them directly, but he certainly wouldn't feign politeness either.
The Dursley family desperately wanted nothing to do with anything strange.
Ever since those two wizards had moved in nearby, Vernon Dursley couldn't walk down the street without worrying that his family had become the subject of neighborhood gossip.
He found it utterly detestable.
Harry had tried explaining to the Dursleys that Sirius and the others had moved nearby to protect them. However, whether because they couldn't understand or simply refused to, the Dursleys' attitude only worsened.
After his outburst, Vernon realized that not only were the hated wizards standing there but also the same boy who had previously come to his house and threatened to call the police.
Vernon's expression shifted slightly, and without another word, he slammed the door shut with a loud bang.
To Vernon, the so-called Dark Wizards Harry mentioned were nothing more than characters from a story, far removed from their daily lives.
The police, however, were a very real and immediate concern, capable of arriving at their doorstep within minutes—a far more tangible problem.
"Hi, Wade! It's great to see you," Harry said cheerfully.
Without missing a beat, he turned to Lupin and asked, "Is there any breakfast left, Remus?"
"There are sandwiches." Lupin said, clearly annoyed: "Did they not give you breakfast?"
"They did." Harry shrugged. "A single lettuce leaf and half a slice of toast—just enough to keep me from starving to death."
Lupin looked like he was about to explode, but he restrained himself. Instead, he turned to Wade and asked if he wanted anything to eat.
Wade naturally declined.
He didn't ask whether Harry had been giving the Dursleys living expenses for himself—
By local law and societal norms, the Dursleys were obligated to care for both Harry and Dudley while they were minors.
Even if Harry and Dudley were to grow up and start working, they wouldn't have any legal duty to support the Dursleys financially, let alone provide them with living expenses.
Moreover, Harry was still a minor himself.
Setting aside the extra chores Harry did, the Dursleys were actually receiving government benefits and tax breaks for taking him in, along with free schooling for him.
In reality, Harry didn't impose much of a financial burden on them.
In this situation, suggesting that they pay the Dursleys' living expenses for Harry would sound strange.
…
This morning's breakfast had been prepared by Kreacher.
When Wade entered the house, the house-elf came out specifically to bow.
Kreacher seemed to have gone out of his way to dress up. The pillowcase he wore was spotless, and even the white fur inside his ears was meticulously groomed.
"Welcome, Master Grey, and young Master Potter… Today's breakfast is porridge and sandwiches. Would you like some roasted potatoes as well?"
"Anything is fine, just hurry," Harry muttered. "I'm starving."
"Just a cup of tea for me, Kreacher," Wade said.
The elderly house-elf bowed again before vanishing with a pop.
Before long, the table was piled high with food, and Wade's tea was freshly brewed.
After Harry finished his breakfast, Sirius returned from outside.
He was dressed in a black suit, with a tie and his slightly long hair tied back in a low ponytail. The look was elegant, tinged with a certain melancholy.
Sirius was also carrying a portrait of Regulus.
"This was his final wish," Sirius said in a low voice. "I want him to witness this as well."
Lupin silently patted his shoulder.
At the agreed-upon time of eleven o'clock, a sudden flash of fire lit up the room, and Fawkes appeared.
The phoenix flapped its wings, one claw gripping Sirius's shoulder.
"Harry, hold on to Sirius!"
Lupin spoke as he grabbed Sirius's arm, while his other hand firmly held onto Wade.
Harry immediately latched onto Sirius's other arm, and Kreacher, without hesitation, clung to Sirius's left leg.
With a string of people hanging off him, Sirius had no choice but to reach out and grasp Fawkes's talon. Seeing that everyone was ready, Fawkes let out a gentle trill.
In an instant, there was a flash of fire. Wade felt his vision blur, and when it cleared, the surroundings had completely changed.
They were in a damp and shadowy cave. The vast expanse of the lake stretched into the darkness, its surface was still as black as before. On the walls, traces of the previous fire used to burn the Inferi remained.
Harry looked around curiously and asked Wade in a hushed voice, "Is this the place you came to last time?"
Wade nodded. "This is where we found Regulus."
Harry had heard the story of their experience and felt a faint chill run down his spine at the thought.
The spot where they now stood had once been filled with at least hundreds of Inferi.
From the darkness, Dumbledore stepped forward and his silver beard seemed to be shining.
He took out the locket and said softly, "It began here… and so it shall end here."
--------------------------------
🙏🙏Please consider supporting this translation project by becoming a P@treon member!!!
Your support is greatly appreciated!
Available on my P@treon page for just $4!!
Early access to the following translations:-
⭐Harry Potter: Becoming a Study God (HP:BSG)- +235 Chapters
⭐MCU: Druid's Adventures (MCUDA)(⭐COMPLETE⭐) - Total Chapter 460
⭐Famous Police Detective in Detective World (FPDDW)- +165 advance chapters
⭐Marvel: Little Genius (MLG) (⭐COMPLETE⭐) - Total Chapter 450
[email protected]/Lightreaper457
--------------------------------