Hogwarts Summoning Guide

At that moment, Harry was happily letting three owls into his room and received several packages and letters.

First came the Daily Prophet from Ron, who briefly boasted about his family winning a 700 Galleon prize and their happy trip to Egypt. Then came his birthday present—a miniature spyglass.

Hermione's gift was brought back by the snow-white Hedwig, and it was right next to Harry's beloved broomstick care kit. Harry was quite pleased with the gift.

However, what followed was Hagrid's delivery of the textbook for the next semester's Magical Creatures Protection class—The Book of Monsters. As Hagrid's assistant, Bai Lin tried a little to suggest that Hagrid choose a "quieter" textbook, but Hagrid was quite stubborn about it.

Watching Harry wrestle with the monster book and finally subdue it, Bai Lin couldn't help but smile. He envied Harry for having such a wonderful and magical childhood. However, Bai Lin loved his parents who were still in his hometown. If he had to exchange his parents' lives for Harry's life, he would definitely refuse. Thinking about it this way, Bai Lin also felt sorry for Harry.

Harry was worried about waking up his aunt and uncle, but his cousin's snoring was still deafening and could be faintly heard throughout the house, while his aunt and uncle were still on the balcony and wouldn't wake up until dawn.

Harry's last letter was the notice for the start of the new term. It was supposed to be written by Professor McGonagall, but obviously the vice-principal wouldn't have time to write to all the students. So, Mrs. Pince, the librarian, took on the task of writing the notices for both Gryffindor and Hufflepuff as a temporary assistant.

Dear Mr. Potter:

Please note that the new school term begins on September 1st, and the Hogwarts Express will depart from Platform 9¾ at King's Cross Station at 11:00 AM.

Third-grade students are permitted to visit Hogsmeade Village on certain weekends. Please have your parent or guardian sign the enclosed permission form.

Enclosed is the reading list for next semester.

Also, several new professors and assistant professors will be teaching next semester. Professor Hagrid, who will be teaching the Magical Creatures Conservation course, has recommended his assistant professor, Mr. Kaelin White, who will be visiting your home soon. Please be respectful.

Your faithful

Vice Principal Professor McGonagall

Clearly, Mrs. Pince helped Bai Lin by adding her own touches to the situation, reducing some of the trouble for Bai Lin's visit.

But Harry was terrified because his aunt and uncle hated anything related to wizards, including wizards themselves. Hagrid's last visit had almost caused chaos and ruined his enrollment.

He didn't know what kind of conversation the new teacher—Kelin White, a name that sounded quite serious—would have with Uncle Vernon, or whether it would prevent him from attending Hogwarts next semester.

The young mind was filled with fear all night, and even forgot that Uncle Vernon or Aunt Petunia needed to sign the Hogsmeade permit.

The next morning, Harry rubbed his dark circles under his eyes as he went downstairs for breakfast. He saw the Dursleys gathered around their new kitchen TV watching the news about the escaped convict Black. The couple, also with dark circles under their eyes, were cursing at the news anchor on TV, looking like they were righteously indignant.

Uncle Vernon was a manager at the Groning Company (Harry and Whitescale both wondered how someone as obnoxious as him could have gotten such a position). He considered himself a successful man and was filled with hatred and disdain for everyone he considered to be a lower class, including Harry's family. How stupid, eccentric, and despicable must someone be to refuse to learn a practical skill like operating an excavator (the Groning Company was a company that produced drilling rigs and excavators) and instead become a wizard? It sounded like an 18th-century street clown.

In a way, Uncle Vernon, Voldemort, and Grindelwald are all the same kind of people. It's just that the Dark Lords discriminate against Muggle blood and wish all Muggles were dead; Vernon, on the other hand, discriminates against wizard blood and wish all wizards were dead...

After scolding the complete stranger Black, Uncle Vernon announced that Aunt Maggie would be visiting soon. This news startled Harry again, even more than he should have been. Harry couldn't even imagine what would happen if the visiting teacher happened to run into Aunt Maggie; the scene would be like hell.

Aunt Maggie is Uncle Vernon's sister, and every time she visits Harry, she brings back a terrifying memory. She is even more venomous than Uncle Vernon, and she can find the most vicious words in the world to curse Harry—this boy who actually has nothing to do with her—at any time.

Uncle Vernon gave Harry a long, rambling lecture, emphasizing that he should remember he attended the "St. Bruce Safe Center Juvenile Offenders School." Bai Lin was also puzzled by this; did having a child who was a juvenile offender give Vernon more prestige in front of Aunt Maggie and the wider community?

Harry looked dejected and agreed listlessly. Seeing Harry's listless appearance, Uncle Vernon kicked Harry in the shin without mercy, almost making him fall to the ground.

Aunt Petunia quickly pulled Uncle Vernon away to prevent him from further beating Harry—although he had been physically abusive since they were children, Harry was different now, and if he really got angry, he might use some strange trick to tear their house down.

But no one knew that in the shadows outside the window, Bai Lin was using the most advanced camera of the 90s to film Uncle Vernon's every move.

After repeating the name of the juvenile delinquent school three times, Uncle Vernon was finally satisfied. He gave Harry a shove, causing him to stumble, and walked out the door.

Harry returned to his room like a zombie, collapsed onto his bed, and cried uncontrollably for a long time. But in the end, he pulled himself together, wrote a short message to Ron, and entrusted Hedwig to him.

Not long after, the crunching sound of gravel being crushed by wheels could be heard outside. Aunt Petunia screamed toward Harry's room, angrily urging him to come out and greet their guests.

Aunt Maggie looked exactly like Uncle Vernon—tall and stocky, with a purplish-red face and even a small tuft of beard. She took a huge box from Vernon's car, and a grumpy old bulldog jumped out of the back seat, which she bent down and cuddled in her arms.

Aunt Maggie shoved the box against Harry's stomach, then hugged Harry's cousin Dudley and gave him a big kiss. Bai Lin, watching from afar, felt a bit nauseous; how could she kiss such a fat, greasy boy? Dudley, meanwhile, proudly waved the brand-new twenty pounds that Maggie had stuffed into Harry's hand.