Chapter -15 Hideout of squibs.

Chapter 15.

Time is like a wild donkey, always on the run!

Before we knew it, summer vacation was here (late June).

If they could just get through this summer, September would roll around, bringing new students to school.

Assuming everything goes smoothly, Dudley will be heading to Smelting School, the same school his dad, Vernon, attended. Petunia thinks Dudley should aim for a better school, but Vernon is set on sending him to his old stomping grounds.

As for Harry and the Dursleys, they initially thought about sending him to a comprehensive secondary school—Stonewall High. It was affordable, and since Harry's grades weren't stellar, they figured a fancy school would be a bit much.

But after some thought, the couple decided to send Harry to Smelting School with Dudley.

When Harry heard he'd be going to school with his cousin, he was over the moon!

Now, to be honest, the Smelting School uniform isn't the most stylish. Picture brown-red tailcoats, orange knickerbockers, a flat straw hat, and a cane with multiple segments. It's pretty silly-looking, and Dudley isn't a fan at all.

"Guys should wear black suspenders," he says.

But Harry was actually looking forward to it since he'd never worn a tailcoat before.

Today is June 23, Dudley's birthday, but he's too busy to care about the mountain of gifts waiting for him.

"Hey, Harry, when you get a chance, can you help me unwrap my gifts? I need to head out for a bit." Dudley quickly packed his things, grabbed a gift from the pile, and told Harry, "If Mom and Dad ask, just say I'm out playing ball with friends. I'll be back by noon."

The Dursleys had planned a whole day of fun for Dudley's birthday, but he could only spare half a day since the family was going to the zoo in the afternoon.

"Big D, you're going there again?" Harry asked.

"Of course! I'll bring you back a Gandalf figurine!" Dudley replied.

Among the "The Lord of the Rings" merchandise, Gandalf is a fan favorite, right up there with the trio from Hogwarts and the Elven prince, though some folks like Saruman too.

"Awesome!" Harry said.

He knew what Dudley was up to; he was aware of many of Dudley's secrets since Dudley never really hid anything from him. Harry couldn't help but admire his cousin.

Dudley was great at everything—sports, school, and even running his own company! He had promised Harry that if he did well in school, he could work as a supervisor at his company, which Harry was really looking forward to.

Meanwhile, Harry was at the dining table, struggling with a piece of smoked bacon. It's a rare treat for the English, and Harry loved it. When Dudley wasn't cooking, it was one of his favorite foods. But for Dudley, it didn't compare to a salt-fried chicken breast with a sprinkle of chili powder.

"Eat less smoked food; it's too strong and not good for you," Dudley advised.

"You should drink more milk," Harry shot back.

Dudley playfully patted Harry on the head, fixing his messy hair a bit. "Time for another haircut, I think."

Harry's hair grows super fast; he gets haircuts more often than all his classmates combined. There are a lot of quirky things about Harry, and as he gets older, they seem to happen more often.

For instance, any electronic device he touches tends to go haywire for no reason. The Dursleys have banned him from using any electronics because no family wants to replace a TV every few weeks.

Dudley knew it was Harry's magic causing the trouble, but Harry wasn't doing it on purpose.

"I'm heading out. See you at noon!" Dudley called.

"See you at noon, Big D!" Harry replied, watching Dudley leave with a hint of envy. Little did he know, while he admired Dudley's talents, Dudley was actually envious of Harry's magical abilities.

As Dudley stepped out of the house, he had already changed his appearance; his disguise skills were getting pretty impressive.

When he arrived at the meeting spot, a small car was waiting, and Dudley hopped in. If he weren't so young, he'd probably be driving himself!

"Let me see what you've got," he said, picking up a package with a big letter "H" on it, showing who it was from. He tore it open to find a scarf, which he immediately wrapped around his neck.

As they drove through London, it didn't take long to reach a residential building.

Dudley wasn't actually going to the company; it was running smoothly without him, managed by professionals. He just needed to count the money and didn't have to worry about trade secrets being stolen since they were just selling a brand or IP—nothing too fancy.

"Same time, same place to pick you up, sir?" the driver asked.

Dudley nodded and grabbed a small suitcase from the seat as he got out of the car. He put on a brown top hat, looked around, and then walked into one of the alleys.

He was there to make a deal.

Dudley had been diving into potion studies, and as he learned more, he wanted to try out more complex potions. But many potion ingredients were hard for Muggles to get, so he had to find some special ways to obtain them.

From his chat with the driver, it was clear this wasn't his first time.

With money, a lot of things become easier, including making connections.

At the end of the alley, he knocked on a door, and a small window opened, revealing just a pair of eyes.

"Who is it?" a muffled voice asked.

"Shadow," Dudley replied coolly.

After confirming the secret code, the door creaked open, letting out a mix of strange smells. Dudley frowned, lowered his hat, and covered his nose with the scarf as he stepped inside.

The room was about the size of a billiard hall, filled with people in all sorts of bizarre outfits, creating a chaotic atmosphere that made the air feel thick. There were no open windows, just a few candles casting dim light, making the place feel pretty dark.

You might think you'd stumbled into a gathering of addicts.

Trash was everywhere, and it was clear no one had cleaned up.

Dudley's first impressions were of dirtiness and chaos.

When the crowd noticed a newcomer, they all turned to look at Dudley, their eyes filled with greed and resentment. But once they recognized him, they quickly looked away.

"Respected Mr. Shadow, please follow me," a servant in medieval attire said, rubbing his hands together with a smile to welcome Dudley.

Note : Guys, some power stones will be really helpful.