"I guess you'll bring me something good, too, Gildero. Farewell to Mrs. Figg, Dumbledore asked with interest.

"Oh, and knowing you have a sweet tooth, I've brought you some snacks from China. Lockhart hurriedly took a small bag out of his bag.

"Aha-" A thin stick poked out of the bag, Dumbledore grabbed it and pulled it out—a rock sugar gourd, "how should this be eaten?"

"Just eat it, the red stuff can be bitten off. Lockhart introduced.

Then he looked at Dumbledore holding the rock sugar gourd in one hand, and took a bite, some red sugar chips stuck to his beard: "It tastes good...... Let's go inside. ”

The two went and knocked on the door of Harry's house, which was actually the door of the Dursleys.

"Who!" said Uncle Harry's voice, and half a minute later, the door opened. "It's you!"

"Judging by the look of surprise and disbelief on your face, Harry didn't tell you that I was coming. Dumbledore said kindly, "Let's assume, though, that you've warmly invited me into your door." In turbulent times, it would be unwise to linger at the door for too long. ”

Dumbledore quickly stepped over the threshold, and though something was wrong, Lockhart followed him inside, closing the door behind him.

"It's been a long time since I was last here. Dumbledore's gaze looked at Uncle Vernon from his hooked nose, "I must admit that your lilies are blooming luxuriantly. ”

Harry hurried down from the stairs and exclaimed in surprise, "Professor Dumbledore, and Professor Lockhart!"

"Good evening, Harry. Lockhart nodded at him.

"You look great, Harry. Dumbledore smiled at him.

"I didn't mean to be rude—" Harry's uncle said, staring at the rock sugar gourd in Dumbledore's hand, as if it were a dangerous thing, and every syllable of his words was rude.

- Still, we often encounter unexpected faux pas. Dumbledore took his words sternly, "It's better not to say anything, dear man." Ah, this must be Penny. ”

The kitchen door opened, and Harry's aunt was standing there, wearing a kitchen apron, her face full of horror: "It's Harry's professor, and ......"

"Harry's Defense Professor, to be exact, and his headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. Seeing that Vernon hadn't introduced him, Dumbledore said, "Of course, we are in good faith, and this must be your son Dudley, right?"

Dudley poked his head out of the living room door, his big yellow-haired head poking out of the collar of his striped pajamas, as if it wasn't on his body. Surprised and frightened, his mouth opened wide. Lockhart smiled at him kindly, but that apparently didn't ease his horror, and Dudley apparently thought Dumbledore was holding a thick wand.

"Can we assume that you've invited me into your living room?" Dumbledore domineeringly led Lockhart into the living room and sat down on the couch.

"Shall we go now?" asked Harry expectantly, staring strangely at the rock sugar gourd in Dumbledore's hand, which, to be honest, resembled the Elder Wand, "Professor?"

"Go, of course, if you're ready. Dumbledore said, "It looks like you don't believe I'm coming tonight." ”

"I'm going to go -- uh-huh -- and pack it up. Harry said quickly, hurriing back upstairs.

Not a single person spoke. Dumbledore hummed a little tune softly, looking like he was enjoying himself, but the air in the room was heavier than the frozen custard. Lockhart sat helplessly and waited, in some ways he felt sympathy for the family's peaceful life being broken, but it was also disgusting for them to mistreat Harry.

Harry ran downstairs: "I'm ready.

"Good. "One more thing," said Dumbledore, "turning to the Dursleys again, "and you're no doubt aware that Harry will be an adult in a year's time—"

"Nope. Aunt Petunia said that this was the second time she had spoken since Dumbledore's arrival.

"Excuse me, what did you say?" asked Dumbledore 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 Dumbledore kindly, "but in wizarding worlds, at the age of seventeen you reach adulthood. ”

Uncle Vernon muttered "ridiculous", but Dumbledore and Lockhart ignored 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. Voldemort had tried to kill Harry many times, and Harry was in a more dangerous situation now than he was fifteen years ago when I placed him on the steps of your house. At that time I left a letter explaining that his parents had been killed and that I hoped that you would take care of him as if he were your own children. ”

Dumbledore paused, and although his voice was still so relaxed and calm, and there was not the slightest hint of anger on his face, Lockhart knew that Dumbledore was intimidating the Dursleys with mental innuendo.

"You didn't do what I said. You never thought of Harry as your own son. All he gets in your hands is neglect and regular abuse. Luckily for all, he didn't at least become the hapless boy sitting among you. ”

Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon instinctively turned their eyes, as if they thought they would see someone else sitting between them.

"We-mistreat Dudley? are you-?" said Uncle Vernon angrily, but Dumbledore raised a hand to signal silence, and the room fell silent at once, as if he had suddenly turned Uncle Vernon mute.

"The magic I cast fifteen years ago meant that Harry would be protected while he could still call this place home. No matter how miserable, how unpopular, how mistreated he is here, you at least reluctantly give him a place to stay. When Harry turns seventeen, that is, when he becomes a man, the magic becomes ineffective. I just ask for one thing: you allow Harry to return to this home before he turns seventeen, and that will ensure that the protective power will last until then. ”

No one in the Dursleys said a word. Dudley frowned slightly, as if he was still wondering what had become of him. Uncle Vernon looked like he had something stuck in his throat. Aunt Penny, but her face flushed inexplicably.

"Alright, Gildero, Harry...... It's time for us to go. Dumbledore concluded. He stood up and straightened his long black cloak. "Until next time. He told the Dursleys, and judging by their expressions, they hoped they would never see each other again. Then, Dumbledore put on his hat and walked out of the room quickly.

"Goodbye. Lockhart didn't want to appear as arrogant as Dumbledore, and he politely said goodbye, but received no response. He helped Harry carry the owl back.

"We don't want to get in the way with them now," Dumbledore said to Harry, drawing his wand outside the door, "I'll send them to the Burrow, and let them wait for us there." However, I want you to bring the Cloak of Invisibility on...... Just in case. ”

It took some effort for Harry to pull the Cloak out of the crate, as he didn't want Dumbledore to see how messy it was. When he slipped the Cloak of Invisibility into the pocket of his jacket, Dumbledore waved the Rock Sugar Gourd, but nothing happened, so he had to change his hand and wave it again, and the chest, cage, and Hedwig disappeared all at once.