Kurad Brian—the boss of the drilling company where Aunt Vernon works.
If it was just a few years ago, Harry might have been able to say his name without thinking, even if he had never met this person. It's not strange at all, is it? If you also often hear family members discussing this name and the stories about him, then you would also have a vivid image of this stranger you've never met.
In fact, using the word "often" to describe the frequency with which Dursleys discuss Mr. Kuread Braun may be somewhat harsh, as they both hang this person's name around quite often.
Whenever they talk about the commendable welfare benefits of Uncle Vernon's company and its growth over the years, Uncle Vernon always speaks with the utmost respect about Mr. Kurad Braun and his wise and heroic decisions.
The reverent and humble tone was so excessive that it reminded Harry of the attitude of the house-elf Dobby from the Malfoy family, whom he had met in the previous school year.
However, since Harry had been at Hogwarts for the past two summers, in his memory, it seemed that he hadn't heard much about Mr. Kuread Braun from the Dursleys anymore. In fact, it was because of this cancer that could be considered an incurable disease for Muggles.
"Oh, that's quite unfortunate," Harry said, frowning with a look of surprise, "When did that happen?"
"Two years...or maybe three or four years?"
Aunt Penny said dryly, "Anyway, this news just started spreading around your uncle's company recently. Until then, Uncle Vernon and his colleagues were puzzled why Mr. Braun didn't appear often. Previously, he almost always showed up on time and gave your uncle and his colleagues work instructions and guided them towards the direction they should make efforts...
Upon hearing this, Harry finally understood what the Dursleys were planning. They hoped to use magical means to cure the boss of the drilling company's illness?
However, is this allowed...
Harry's lips were pressed tightly together. He knew that the magical world had a well-established legal system prohibiting witches and wizards from actively revealing their magical power to Muggles. His Hogwarts roommate and best friend, Ron's father, was working in this field. The Reading Room
"We're not allowed to show... I mean, to people who don't understand magic... You know, you've all seen, I got a warning letter last summer..."
Harry's brain quickly turned a few times before he gave his own answer.
If the circumstances were right, Harry would certainly not reject using magic to save someone's life. But if the cost was that he might be expelled from Hogwarts, or even imprisoned in the terrible magical prison, then that would be another matter.
"About that, I've discussed it with Vernon--"
As the conversation continued to this point, Aunt Penny gasped and said,
"If someone gives you a hard time, we'll help you explain things," Aunt Penny said, gasping. "Vernon's many colleagues are trying to find out about doctors with top-notch medical skills. Of course, it's unlikely that the disease can be completely cured, but if it helps Mr. Braun live a little longer or recovers his spirit... You understand what we mean, Vernon has been in his management position for some years now and he has the capability to perform at a higher level?"
Aunt Penny emphasized, repeating it again with more force,
Aunt Penny emphasized with a heavier tone, "We believe you should take some initiative in this matter. I think you must be thinking the same thing, after all, without us, you would be on the streets!"
Harry's whole body radiated resistance. To be honest, he didn't want to be involved with this trouble, but Aunt Penny, who had already opened her mouth, seemed unwilling to let go of this opportunity.
"There must be people who have had this disease at your place, right? What would St. Mungo's Hospital generally do? As for the money, Vernon and I will figure that out. Just make sure they come up with some medicine that addresses the problem!"
Aunt Penny finally asked a good question. Harry didn't know how capable St. Mungo's Hospital was, and he was thinking about another question: had there ever been a witch or wizard who had cancer?
Harry racked his brain, recalling all the magical information he had received since he first came into contact with the magical world, but neither the daily conversations, the wizarding weeklies and newspapers he had read, the casual comments from his professors outside class, nor the various strange ailments of past students that Mrs. Pomfrey would always mention when Harry lay in the school hospital all seemed to be related to this topic.
"You should be grateful, lad!"
Harry's long silence made Vernon Dursley, who was worried about his future, unable to keep still. He stomped loudly on the wooden floor in the living room and almost broke the door frame of the kitchen with a slap.
"We saved you from starving!"
He shouted at Harry from the doorway of the kitchen,
"We clothed you, sent you to school, and even gave you Dumbledore's old bedroom. If you know how to spell the word 'grateful', you should be overjoyed and accept it!"
You adopted me because the Muggle laws required you to do so, sent me to school because it's free, and gave me clothes and a bedroom because Dudley didn't want them!
Angry though Harry wanted to say this, he was worried that if he really did, the Dursleys might lock him in the attic storeroom with a chain around his neck and keep him there until he was an adult, never allowing him to return to Hogwarts.
"I have a condition--"
After a long silence, Harry looked up at the heavily panting Vernon Dursley, with a grim face, and said.
"You must return my spellbook to me; I need to finish my summer homework!"
"You actually dare to mention conditions!"
Vernon Dursley pounded on the nearly disintegrating door frame with a ferocious roar, banging loudly.
"Look at that mess of hair of yours, not knowing how to be grateful... You're nothing but... I've known your true face all along, lad!"
"Vernon, the neighbors will hear--"
Aunt Penny whispered a warning before looking at Harry. Her bony chest rose and fell, indicating that Harry's ingratitude had also angered her quite a bit.
But in the face of her cold, hard stare, Harry did not back down. He had had enough of writing his summer homework by flashlight under the covers at night. If he didn't take this opportunity to retrieve all his magical books, he could imagine that come the start of the next school term, his Potions professor wouldn't let him off the hook easily.
"You must promise--"
In the end, Aunt Penny gave in. Her face turned green, and she clenched her teeth, forcing out each word one by one.
"No making any odd and peculiar noises, and not to mention anything about your side in front of the neighbors!"
"Okay!"
Harry's heart raced faster as he quickly replied, this was quite a victory over the Dursleys, but he immediately added,
"I need to see Mr. Braun's condition first--"
Harry shrugged in response to Aunt Penny's sudden alert gaze,
"I need to understand the situation first before I can ask my friends to investigate."
"Alright..."
"That's a reasonable request. Even Vernon can't find anything wrong with it," said Harry reluctantly.
"And your aunt and Dudley plan to visit tomorrow, you can go along... but I'll warn you, boy,"
Uncle Vernon bent his imposing, bulky frame, his eyes gleaming with a threatening light.
"Mr. Braun is a very respectable gentleman. If you dare to cause any trouble in his house, boy, I promise you that you will regret being born!"
