"On July 29th."
The weather on Sunday morning was as bright and sunny as the day before, with brilliant sunshine pouring down onto the clean and tidy path of Holly Lane. The meticulously tended private gardens lining both sides of the road were ablaze with brightly colored flowers swaying gently in the breeze, competing for attention.
The indoor air felt stuffy and oppressive. Harry kicked everything related to his potion-making homework off the bed with a loud thud, turned over to face the birdcage hanging by the window grating, and felt an incredible sense of irritation.
Every year up until now, Harry's mood around this time of year would always be irritable. This was due to the fact that July 31st was his birthday, but his aunt and uncle obviously weren't considerate enough to throw him a birthday party. The only way they celebrated his birthday was by letting him do a little less housework that day.
But this year, the reason for Harry's irritability before his birthday was a bit different.
Clang!
The odd sound from the street outside suddenly awoke Harry, who had been half-asleep with his eyes half-closed. He lunged forward and peered out of the window. Upon seeing that the noise was coming from a garbage truck collecting trash from the bins on the street, Harry's expression turned to disappointment and he slumped back down onto the edge of his bed.
"Are you sure you gave him the letter?"
Hedwig, who had been traveling for several days and was completely exhausted, was resting in the birdcage. Upon hearing Harry's doubts, she twitched her eyelids and made a few complaining sounds before hiding her head under the other wing and continuing to rest.
After a heavy sigh, Harry stared blankly at the white wall, lost in thought, completely unaware that just half a minute after he withdrew his gaze, a faint boom sounded on Holly Lane... W-W-W.
Surrey, Kingston upon Thames, Holly Road --
Armstrong, dressed in Muggle attire, appeared suddenly on the street of Holly Road with his wand in hand. In the first moment of his appearance, he scanned around alertly to make sure there were no Muggles watching, and when he confirmed that there was nobody around, he let out a slight sigh of relief. He then slipped his wand into his pocket and took an interested look around at the scenery.
No. 7, Holly Road --
Several steps away, a brass plaque on the front of a house informed Armstrong of his precise location. After glancing around himself for a moment, he confirmed the address mentioned in the letter he had received - Number Four, Holly Road. Taking his time, he began to make his way towards it.
Standing in front of the house at No. 4 Holly Road, Armstrong did not rush to cross the garden and knock on the door. Instead, he stood on the street and appraised the blooming roses and lilies in the garden, basking in the golden sunlight and inhaling the rich scent of flowers. After a while, when he felt his inner turmoil had completely subsided, he smiled and knocked on the door.
Knock-knock-knock--
Ten seconds after the soothing knock, there was a hurried sound of footsteps inside the house. Armstrong stepped back a step and waited quietly for someone to open the door.
The woman who opened the door was very thin, but had an impressive height. In addition, her gloomy face also made an impression on Armstrong.
"Excuse me for interrupting your breakfast preparations, madam--"
Armstrong glanced at the steaming shovel in Aunt Petunia's hand and nodded with a polite smile.
"But Harry Potter who lives in this house wrote me a letter, telling me some things and hoping I could come to visit. So--oh, of course, if you'd like me to come another time, that's fine."
The air fell silent, and Aunt Petunia looked at the young man five feet away from her. Her eyes went from confusion to stupor, then to horror, and finally, before Armstrong could offer another greeting, she let out a bloodcurdling scream.
"You, you come here quickly, Vernon! I must be seeing things!!!"
Watching Aunt Petunia practically running into the house, Armstrong raised an eyebrow. It didn't really surprise him, as he had already anticipated something like this when he saw that Potter's letter mentioned his uncle was an old employee of the drilling company.
"So--"
Armstrong cocked his head towards the chaotic living room.
"Can I pretend that I've already accepted your warm invitation to enter the room?"
......
In the kitchen, the dining table had been knocked over, and the Dursleys cowered in a corner, shaking and silent, as they watched the young man enter.
"Oh my God!"
Armstrong stood in the living room, staring at Harry Potter who was almost leaping down the stairs. He had an amazed expression on his face.
"But it's only been four months since we last saw each other, Potter. You've grown so much! Do you secretly drink height-boosting potion?"
"Professor Brian!"
Harry, gasping for breath, looked at the almost unchanged Professor Brian except for his attire. His trembling voice was clearly excited and animated.
"You're really here... well, I thought I'd written a letter to Hedwig, and she might have lost it, or even gotten it mixed up with someone else!"
"Hmm, your owl is very clever, Potter--"
Armstrong smiled and said, turning his gaze to the disorganized kitchen. He made a crisp snap with his fingers, and the wobbly table slowly righted itself. The bacon and eggs scattered on the ground quickly spun themselves off the dust before being thrown back into the restored plate, and when everything was back to normal, Armstrong looked at the Dursleys on the counter with a slightly apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry, everyone, I seem to have caused some fright?"
"Little kid, you... you really cured..."
Vernon Dursley's small eyes bulged out of their sockets, and the way he looked at Harry was like he had never seen him before in his life.
Though Harry had much to say to Professor Brian, the sight of the Dursleys' antics was too amusing for him to keep straight. Watching Vernon and Petunia on the countertop, trembling with terror, and behind them Dobby hiding with his hands over his bottom, Harry suddenly felt like playing. So, he said casually,
"Yes, I got someone to cure him--" Harry nodded and said, "That's what I promised you."
"You... you really are Professor Brian--"
Vernon Dursley said gruffly.
"This is a young man, Vernon--"
Apparently more prudent, Aunt Petunia buried her face in Vernon's broad arm and whispered a reminder.
"He knows their tricks--"
Dobby was also muttering something behind Vernon's back.
"Come down first, three of you--"
Armstrong glanced at Harry and then laughed at the Dursleys.
"If you don't mind, we can have a breakfast together. I'm starving actually--"
