"A worthless, lazy liar, a complete good-for-nothing..." Aunt Marge's words were like venom.
"He is not!" Harry's voice trembled with rage, defending his father against her slander.
"Have some more brandy!" Uncle Vernon, sensing the escalating tension, hastily refilled Aunt Marge's glass with the remainder of the bottle. He then turned to Harry with a growl, "Go to bed, now!"
"No, Vernon." Aunt Marge, having downed her brandy with a belch, fixed her small, bloodshot eyes on Harry, her gaze seeming to taunt him. "Go on, boy. You're very proud of your parents, aren't you? They were killed in a car crash."
Unable to bear the lies any longer, Harry stood, his voice firm. "They didn't die in a car accident!" His words caused Uncle Vernon's face to blanch, and he gestured frantically for Marge to cease her provocations.
However, Aunt Marge seemed unable to stop herself, her words growing more vitriolic, labeling Harry a burden and an ungrateful wretch. As she spoke, her body began to swell unnaturally, expanding like a balloon until she floated upwards. Uncle Vernon's scream of horror echoed as he attempted, in vain, to pull her down, nearly being lifted off the ground himself.
The Dursleys were thrown into chaos, but Harry had no desire to stay. Grabbing his luggage, he made for the door in seconds. Uncle Vernon tried to intercept him, but Harry, wand in hand, warned, "She's doing this to herself. Move!"
After Harry had stormed out, dragging his suitcase through the streets, his anger began to ebb, replaced by exhaustion and confusion. Leaning against a wall on Magnolia Crescent, he gasped for breath, overwhelmed by his predicament. Using magic outside of school could have severe consequences, possibly even Azkaban. Lost in his turmoil, he wondered if he would be forced to navigate the Muggle world alone, a fugitive.
His thoughts turned to Ron and Hermione, his steadfast friends who would surely stand by him, regardless of the circumstances. Yet, with Hedwig temporarily staying with Ron, Harry felt utterly isolated.
"Harry, there seems to be a lot of activity over there," a familiar voice broke through his despair. John emerged from the shadows, inexplicably holding a can of dried fish. "Planning to run away from home?" he inquired, raising an eyebrow at Harry's disheveled state.
"John, I... I might be wandering the world soon," Harry admitted, feeling a glimmer of hope upon seeing John, who lived nearby and had likely witnessed his 'good deed.'
John couldn't help but chuckle. "Harry, you're the savior. Do you really think the Ministry of Magic would imprison you over something so trivial? Come on, you need to calm down." He set down the dried fish, offering a bit of comfort. "Don't worry too much. Just find a safe place to wait. The Ministry might just send you a letter."
Suggesting that Harry could stay at the Leaky Cauldron for a while, John offered to help sort things out. Harry, feeling somewhat reassured, nodded in agreement.
John then handed Harry a bag of Galleons, noticing his stunned expression. "Didn't you ask to borrow some money?"
"Uh... that's a lot. At least a hundred Galleons," Harry murmured, overwhelmed by John's generosity and the unexpected turn of events. Harry scratched his head and stammered, clearly uncomfortable. John, with a hint of amusement, quipped, "With a veritable mountain of gold in your vault, are you really playing the pauper here?" He tossed a Galleon to Harry, which struck him in the chest, causing him to wince. Without another word, John turned and made his way to the Dursleys' house, mindful of the need to conclude his business swiftly before any Muggles noticed the spectacle unfolding in the sky.
It was only after John had departed that Harry managed to catch his breath, the weight of the gold coin in his hand a tangible reminder of the encounter. Watching John's retreating figure, Harry felt an unexpected warmth in his heart. However, this feeling was quickly replaced by a shiver of apprehension as he sensed something ominous lurking in the shadows at the end of the street. Instinctively, he whispered, "Lumos," and his wand cast a reassuring glow. Across the road, he spotted a large black dog, its size and demeanor reminiscent of a bear, which made Harry's heart race. In his attempt to get a better look, he stumbled and fell.
Suddenly, the sound of galloping pierced the night, followed by a blinding light. Shielding his eyes, Harry glimpsed a purple, three-decker bus materializing before him. The conductor, a young man with notably large ears, hopped down and eyed Harry with suspicion. "What are you doing on the ground?" he inquired. Harry glanced back across the street, only to find that the black dog had vanished.
Meanwhile, chaos reigned at the Dursleys' house. Amidst the cacophony of screams and barking dogs, Maggie was seen floating perilously in the air until a snowy owl swooped in, skillfully grabbing her by the collar and bringing her safely to the ground. John approached the house and knocked, but the tumult inside suggested that no one would answer. Effortlessly, he waved his hand over the doorknob, which clicked open, allowing him entrance. The moment he stepped inside, the noise ceased as if muted.
Vernon Dursley, red-faced and furious, began to berate John, but a single look from John silenced him. Maggie, still in a daze, was brought inside by Basil. The Dursleys, desperate, pleaded with John, "Please, can you undo whatever has been done to her?"
John, with a slight smirk, responded, "If you've learned anything from your Muggle upbringing, it's that politeness goes a long way." Vernon, struggling to contain his anger, managed to choke out a request for help.
With a nonchalant gesture from John, Maggie's condition was swiftly reversed, leaving her disoriented but physically unharmed. Just then, a loud noise announced the arrival of two Ministry of Magic officials. They were initially taken aback by the scene but quickly focused on Maggie, who was still recovering from her ordeal.
John, ever the charmer, addressed the officials, "I believe there's a Muggle here in need of your services to erase a rather distressing memory." He then casually suggested they reward his owl, Basil, with a couple of dried fish for its assistance, leaving the officials bemused by his audacity.
Despite their confusion, the officials proceeded to erase Maggie's memory, much to the Dursleys' horror, who feared the worst. Once the Ministry representatives had departed, John remained, a calm presence amidst the storm he had helped quell. Perched on the sofa, Basil gracefully flew to his shoulder and settled there. He turned to Vernon Dursley with a smile that belied his youthful appearance, making him seem as formidable as the wealthiest and most influential figures. "Now, Mr. Dursley, could you perhaps enlighten me as to why Harry is so upset?" he inquired, his tone polite yet carrying an undercurrent of authority that made Vernon swallow hard. Despite being evidently the same age as Harry, Basil exuded an aura that commanded respect and attention, much like those in positions of power.
_________
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