John Wick returned home after a month-long absence, greeted warmly by his brother Watson. Watson, despite his youthful appearance, had a mature understanding of the household's dynamics, particularly the importance of their mother's mood. John's heart sank upon hearing that his mother, Mrs. Wick, was displeased with him for not keeping his promise to write weekly. His recent stay at Nicolas Flamel's, where a Fidelius Charm prevented any communication from reaching him, had inadvertently caused this rift.
Mrs. Wick, usually a paragon of patience and kindness, was visibly upset—a rare occurrence that John dreaded. The memory of surviving on poorly made bread and dipping sauces during a previous cold war with her was enough to send shivers down his spine. Determined to make amends, John approached her with a carefully chosen peace offering: a bottle of exquisite French perfume. His attempt at charming his way back into her good graces was successful, though not without a stern reprimand for his negligence.
After smoothing things over with his mother, John retreated to his room, where Watson delivered a stack of letters from his friends. Among them were letters from Hermione, Ron, Hagrid, and surprisingly, three from Draco Malfoy. Each letter, except Malfoy's, expressed concern over Harry Potter's silence throughout the holidays, fueling John's worry that Harry might have been apprehended by the Ministry of Magic for using magic outside school.
Resolved to check on Harry, John prepared to leave, securing a freshly baked apple pie from Mrs. Wick as a peace offering. He arrived at 4 Privet Drive and was greeted by Dudley Dursley, who mistakenly hoped the pie signaled a belated apology from Harry. Dudley's loud recognition of John caught the attention of Petunia Dursley, who remembered him from King's Cross station. Vernon Dursley, Harry's uncle, also emerged, his presence adding to the tension.
John's visit was unexpected and unwelcome, stirring a mix of curiosity and apprehension among the Dursleys. His intention was clear: to ensure Harry's well-being and possibly mend fences, but the Dursleys' reaction was anything but predictable. Vernon Dursley emerged, likely in his forties, with a notable absence of a neck, a substantial beard, and a physique that spoke to a life of comfort. Upon laying eyes on John, Vernon's face contorted with displeasure as he bellowed, "You dare to set foot in my home!" His confidence stemmed from a recent incident where Harry received a warning from the Ministry of Magic for using magic outside school, leading Vernon to believe these young wizards were powerless against him. He attempted to shoo John away with his words.
"Mr. Dursley, it appears there's been a misunderstanding," John replied, his tone dripping with politeness. "I am here as the child of the household at No. 6 Privet Drive, merely a neighbor coming to visit." This momentarily took Vernon aback, and John seized the opportunity to add, "Would Mr. Dursley really lack the basic decency to turn away a neighbor who has come bearing gifts?"
Upon closer inspection, Vernon noticed the apple pie in John's hands, its rich, sweet aroma causing his son Dudley to salivate uncontrollably. Vernon's expression shifted through various shades of displeasure before he grudgingly allowed, "If you're not part of that troublesome lot, then come in."
John entered, offering a slight smile as he handed the apple pie to a stern-faced Petunia before stepping inside.
"Sit down, but know you'll be leaving in a minute," Vernon said, barely concealing his disdain. John observed Dudley eagerly devouring the apple pie, noting the striking resemblance between father and son. "Where's Harry?" he inquired.
"Harry? Don't even mention that boy to me," Vernon spat out, revealing that he had confined Harry to his room, secured with iron bars, and only allowed him meals through a small opening. He was adamant that Harry would not be returning to school, a decision he believed was final.
As Vernon glanced at his watch, preparing to dismiss John, his demeanor shifted from hostile to aggressive. However, John, losing his patience, forcefully corrected Vernon's misunderstanding by snapping his finger, causing Vernon to howl in pain.
"Mr. Dursley, you seem to be under a significant misapprehension," John stated, his voice now icy.
"Misunderstanding? There's no misunderstanding! Leave now, or I'll call the police!" Vernon threatened through gritted teeth.
John's patience had evaporated. "I'm not merely Harry's classmate. My father has connections with Mr. Fern Wallace. You do understand what that means, don't you?" The mention of Fern Wallace, a notorious gang leader in London, caused Vernon's bravado to crumble, realizing the gravity of John's threat.
"Please, forgive my earlier rudeness," Vernon pleaded, the pain evident in his voice as he forced a smile.
"Harry is upstairs," he conceded.
"Thank you, Mr. Dursley. Now, if you'd be so kind as to let me see my friend," John replied, releasing Vernon's finger.
Vernon, nursing his possibly broken finger, stepped aside. John, maintaining his composure, suggested to Dudley, still preoccupied with his pie, "Perhaps you should show some hospitality and lead the way."
Reluctantly, and only after Vernon physically coerced him, Dudley led John upstairs. Standing before Harry's sealed room, John mused aloud about the UK's child protection laws, to which Dudley quickly interjected, blaming Harry for a recent mishap with his father's business, eager to distance himself from any blame.
The scene painted a vivid picture of the Dursleys' household dynamics, revealing the lengths to which they would go to control Harry, and the unexpected leverage John wielded through his connections, altering the power balance within the Dursley home. John's lips curled into a smirk; he realized he hadn't brought a pencil with him. Taking a step forward, he addressed Dudley, "Open the door, Dudley."
_________
If you are tired of reading I also have this converted to an audio novel on my youtube
https://www.youtube.com/@NovelAudioForge/featured
Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge