"About your mother... I mean that woman..."
After Professor Brian finished his story about why he became an orphan, Harry, who had been gaping for a while, couldn't find a noun to refer to the woman named Berina Deta!
For years, the Dursleys have tried their best to ignore and even mistreat Harry, but even so, Harry has to admit that they are decent parents because they treat their son Delusions exceptionally well.
And this woman named Berina totally overturned Harry's definition of 'parents'!
"She was last..."
"Died..."
Amosato was twisting his fingers, with a complex expression.
"By the time Grandma Felina finally found an assistant, she had been swept away by the water for who knows how far, as the river surface was frozen over and covered with a thick layer of snow, so in the end, no one knew exactly where she had drifted to."
"This was the fitting end of her behavior... Harry thought in his heart, but didn't say it out loud."
Outside the house, the heavy rain had eased up, and as the story progressed, an antique clock leaning against the wall between them leapt a significant hour ahead. The increasingly boisterous chaos in the corridor outside mingled with occasional sobs, but no one ever intruded upon this private meeting room.
Harry lowered his head and stared at the luxurious velvet carpet under his feet, suddenly feeling that he wasn't so miserable after all. It's true that his parents were killed by Voldemort shortly after his birth, but Harry can confirm one thing: his parents loved him and sacrificed their lives to protect him.
"Do you... do you hate them?"
"No hate."
Professor Brian shook his head and gave an answer that left Harry stunned.
"I do not bear a grudge against them, just as I do not love them either. I merely think it's a very tragic thing."
The rain had stopped, but the sky hadn't yet cleared up. Amosato stood up and walked to the window, pushing it open. He looked out at the rapidly gathering crowd in the courtyard below, then, with his eyes closed, took a deep breath of the fresh, post-rain air, and his mood gradually improved.
"And your paternal grandparents..."
After a long silence, Harry raised his head and asked, "Have you ever inquired about their news?"
"They -"
Amosato smiled at the bird flying by him and stretched his back. He spoke lazily, "As for them -"
"By the way, I did make inquiries... Their neighbors mentioned that shortly after the ungrateful daughter showed up with a child, they moved and left. They're said to have moved to a city in America."
Harry wanted to ask Professor Brian if he had ever had a chance to visit his paternal grandparents later, but as the words were on his tongue, he suddenly felt that it was a very boring question. So, he quietly closed his mouth.
At this moment, a knock suddenly sounded from outside. After obtaining Professor Brian's permission, the door was opened, and the old butler Lawrence entered with a stack of papers, moving slowly.
The extremely polite Lawrence passed by Harry without even glancing at him, instead walking directly to Professor Brian, who was standing by the window. He bowed respectfully with a bent back, his face bearing sorrow.
Harry wasn't bothered by Lawrence's neglect towards him and didn't find it strange that he looked like that on his face. That was just the way it was.
"Master -"
Lawrence's eyes were red, and his voice was hoarse to an extreme.
"I've already told you, Lawrence, my name is Amosata Brian, not some 'master'."
Amosata examined the old butler, who had sent two generations of the Brian family to their graves, and his heart was filled with mixed emotions. This old butler might be the only person he wanted to talk more with in this house.
Lawrence fumbled with his lips for a moment, his gaze fixed on the young man before him, as if he had seen Cordel Brian from twenty years ago.
"In compliance with your will..."
Lawrence nodded with a snuffle,
"For the past two years since Lord Brian fell ill, he has secretly sold off the vast majority of the Brian family's assets, including Granning Diamond Works. His wish was to donate this money to charitable organizations without charge..."
Amosata raised his eyebrows, having already guessed what Lawrence would say next.
"---But just now, Lord Brian changed his will, leaving all the money and, this estate to you..."
Amosata smiled and asked with interest,
"May I ask, how much is the total amount of money?"
"Five companies' shares, three estates in London and Birmingham, a villa in Majorca, luxury cars, some antiques from various countries around the world, yachts... All processed in a hurry, finally leaving..."
Lawrence quickly mentioned a figure.
"What a 'only got'! Amosata rolled his eyes, almost choked on his breath."
Even Harry, whose concept of money was gradually shifting towards "Galleons, Sickles and Knuts," widened his eyes and stuttered after hearing the figure. His heart suddenly skipped a beat!
Harry thought to himself, "If the Dursleys knew about this, they might faint with jealousy."
"If you have no objections, these documents need your signature..." Lawrence passed the documents to Amosata.
"No need, Lawrence. Just do as he wished."
Amosata stepped around the documents and walked towards the door, with an arm slung over Harry's shoulder, pulling him along with him.
"Are we going to have lunch, Professor Brian?" Harry asked a little confused.
"Oh, I don't know why, but I suddenly lost my appetite," Amosata blinked his eyes and smiled, "And since the rain has stopped, I think we'd better leave first."
Neither Harry nor the old butler Lawrence showed any surprise at Amosata's choice.
"Mr. Brian -"
The door opened, and as Amosata and Harry were about to disappear from view, Lawrence suddenly called out to them. Facing their questioning glances, he hesitated and choked up for a few moments.
"Mr. Brian..., this house is the ancestral home where the Brian family has lived for several generations..."
Gazing at the elderly, faithful butler who was balding and gray, Amosata slowly nodded his head. "Then, Lawrence, you can take care of it on behalf of the Brian family."
..........
"I won't say goodbye to your aunt and uncle, Potter..."
Outside the house at Number 4 Privet Drive, Amosata said as he stepped out of the taxi, noticing Potter's surprise. Then, with a smile, he explained.
"Because I found that your aunt and uncle seem to dislike me."
"Oh, they don't like anything magic," Harry also smiled, but then he collected his smile, showing unwillingness.
"Then where are you going next, Professor Brian?"
"Some things happened recently that have changed my body, so I'm planning to stay in a hotel for a few days to get used to these changes... Oh, maybe I should also find myself a place to live; it's not like it's all right to keep staying in hotels!"
Upon hearing this question, Amosata tiredly rubbed his brow.
"After that, I plan to look for someone's whereabouts..."
Having said that, Amosata waved at the bewildered Harry and then turned around decisively, his figure quickly disappearing around the corner of the street...
...
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Book Club
