He placed the empty cup on the small table next to the chair. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

"You see, if you do inherit that house, you will inherit it at the same time—"

He waved his wand again. With a loud pop, a house-elf appeared, with a protruding nose upward, a pair of large bat-like ears, and a pair of bloodshot eyes that were like brass bells. He was dressed in dirty, tattered clothes and crouched on the plush carpet of the Dursleys. Harry's aunt let out a hair-raising scream, and Dursley yelled, "What is that?"

"Kreacher. Phoenix continued what he had just said.

"Kreacher don't, Kreacher doesn't, Kreacher doesn't!" the house-elf said in a hoarse voice, almost as high as Dursley's, while still stomping his long, wrinkled feet and tugging at his big ears, "Kreacher belongs to Miss Narcissa, oh, yes, Kreacher belongs to the Black family, Kreacher wants a new mistress, Kreacher doesn't belong to that Potter boy, Kreacher doesn't, don't, don't-"

"You can see that, Harry," Phoenix used a silent spell to silence Kreacher, "Kreacher doesn't want to be owned by you. ”

"I don't care," Harry said again, looking at the house-elf who was writhing and stomping his feet in disgust, "I don't want him. ”

Kreacher began pounding the floor with his hands and feet, doing everything he could to make noise.

"Okay, I'll take care of it. Before you do that, give him an order to see if Grimmauld Place recognizes you. ”

Harry couldn't think of anything to say, so he shouted, "Kreacher, don't move!"

Suddenly, Kreacher froze.

"Well, then things will be simple," said Phoenix, cheerfully, "and it seems that Blake has a clear mind. You are the rightful owner of 12 Grimmauld Place and Kreacher. ”

Phoenix slammed his wand at Kreacher, giving him one last vicious look at Harry and disappearing with a thud.

"I think you should be well aware that your protectors in the wizarding world - there is no better word for it - have all died, so the keys to Gringotts should be kept by your aunt and uncle. ”

"What!?" Harry staggered to his feet, his drink spilling on the carpet.

"But considering their fear of magic, I think it's better to give it to you. ”

Phoenix pulled out a golden key and handed it to him, under Dursley's greedy gaze. They were bound by some kind of magic and seemed unable to move, watching as the key fell into Harry's hands.

"One last thing," Phoenix said to the Dursleys, getting up and saying, "Harry will be an adult in a year—"

"Nope. Aunt Petunia said it was the first time she had spoken since Phoenix arrived.

"Excuse me, what did you say?" asked Phoenix politely.

"No, he's not an adult yet. He was a month younger than Dudley, and Dudley would not be eighteen until the next year. ”

"Ah," said Phoenix, kindly, "but in the wizarding world, seventeen is an adult. ”

Uncle Vernon mutters "ridiculous," but Phoenix ignores him.

"As you already know, now, the wizard named Voldemort is back in this country. The wizarding world is currently in a state of open warfare. Considering some circumstances, plans, and Potter's special position in the anti-Voldemort camp, Potter won't be coming back, I mean, this time may be the last time he'll stay here. As soon as he turns seventeen, the spell that keeps him safe will be lifted and you will be exposed. There is reason to believe that Voldemort will target you, or torture you, torture him, or think that taking you hostage will lead to Potter's rescue. ”

Harry suddenly looked up at his uncle, and the two looked at each other for a moment, both seeming to be suspicious.

"We won't wait until then, the situation is not in our favor right now. We have to be prepared in advance, and you're certainly protected," Phoenix nodded, "even from what we've learned, you're not friendly to Potter. ”

"It's more appropriate to say that we hate each other. Harry said lightly.

"Anyway, we'll move you and take you to a safe place to be protected. ”

Aunt Penny clutched Dursley's arm, and it took him a moment to understand what he was talking about. The big purple face crumpled and spoke.

"We're in danger, from- what-"

"From Voldemort, exactly. "You should have heard of it, too." ”

"Isn't there another Ministry of Magic?" said Dursley suddenly, "why don't we leave them to protect us?"

"Listen, Mr. Dursley, the Ministry of Magic will soon become one of Voldemort's minions. They will find you, torture you, and you must hide. Hermione dissuaded, "Your son had better take a break from school, and your work must stop." ”

Dursley, who seemed to be greatly offended, said angrily, "You people can't just decide what we should do and what we shouldn't do—"

"Of course," Phoenix waved impatiently, "if you choose to die, we won't stop you—"

"Phoenix, don't say that. Hermione said sternly.

"They are adults who have enough judgment and thinking skills to take responsibility for their actions. Phoenix beckoned, and the trench coat flew over.

Phoenix put on his trench coat and looked down at Dursley.

"That's all that needs to be said, then, goodbye. ”

Hermione got up to say goodbye to Harry, and made an appointment to see her in Diagon Alley. As she passed by Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, she tried to dissuade her again. Harry lagged behind, slightly disappointed, and sent them to the door.

"As a final reminder, it's best to carry your invisibility cloak with you, just in case. ”

The two shook hands, and as they stepped onto the asphalt of Privet Road, there was a sound of the door closing behind them. At this point, the street lights are already on. A mist had slowly fallen to the ground at some point.

"Isn't there anything the Ministry of Magic can do? In that case, the Dementors will get more and more. Hermione clung to Phoenix, her tone expressing her displeasure at the Ministry's inaction.

"There aren't enough people, not every Ministry of Magic employee can banish the Dementors," he said in a brisk tone, draping her trench coat, "The Minister refused, asking for foreign aid." ”

"What, why?" said Hermione, surprised.

"It's basically politically motivated. You read today's newspaper that Scrimgeour has relaxed the administration of the Reasonable Restraint Act for Underage Wizards. It's just to free up manpower to increase the strength of the magic law enforcement team, and I don't think he will ask for help unless he has to. ”

"If there's an attack," Phoenix said, "most people have to defend themselves." I don't think you need to worry about being attacked tonight, though. ”

"Why?"

"Because you're with me, don't worry, I'll protect you. Phoenix smiled.

The figures of the two men gradually disappeared into the thickening mist. (To be continued.) )