The sky was clear, painted a soft blue with only a few cotton clouds drifting lazily overhead. The sun hung warm and steady, casting golden light over the neat rows of suburban houses. A gentle summer breeze rustled through the hedges, carrying with it the scent of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers. It was the kind of afternoon that made the whole world feel a little slower.
After returning from Kamar-Taj, Maverick first took a few quiet days to spend with his family—a rare breath of normal life—before diving back into the extraordinary. With summer already slipping by, it was time to get back on track and start crossing things off his list.
First stop: 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey.
The change in Harry's life was like night and day. The boy who once looked like a tired little servant now stood straighter, smiled more often, and carried a quiet kind of energy that had not been there before.
The Dursleys had changed too—or at least, their treatment of Harry had. Maverick had taken the time to observe them before stepping inside, and he saw no scowls, no sharp words, and none of the constant nagging that used to follow Harry around like he was some kind of disease.
Petunia seemed genuine in how she treated the kid now—like she was really trying to make things right with Harry, the orphan of her late sister.
Vernon, though… well, he was trying too, in his own awkward, clumsy way. The forced politeness, the stiff smiles—it all felt more like a performance.
But it doesn't matter. If things worked out between them and Harry, great. If not, that was fine too. Harry was growing up, and when the time came—when Voldemort was no longer useful and finally killed off—Harry would have full freedom to live however he wanted. Whether that meant finding his own place or cutting ties with the Dursleys for good, it would be his call.
Maverick stepped up to the front door of 4 Privet Drive and rang the bell. With his Magical-Sense, he knew already what was going on inside. Harry had just finished breakfast with the Dursley family and gone upstairs to his room, with Dudley following suit. Petunia was at the sink doing the dishes, and Vernon had just settled in front of the television.
At the sound of the doorbell, the heavy man got up and opened the door—only to freeze like he had just seen a ghost.
Maverick pretended not to notice and gave him a... less-than-friendly smile before the fat man quickly greeted him, then stepped aside and gestured him in.
"Sir... we, uh... little Harry did mention that you'd be visiting..."
Maverick held back the chuckle, nodded, then stepped inside and greeted Petunia as well.
He then slipped off his coat, folded it neatly over one arm, and glanced around the place. From the corner of his eye, he saw the news playing on the television and—
Oh… is it already happening? he thought inwardly, then brushed the memory aside.
"I'll be taking little Harry for a couple of weeks," he said casually, leaving no room for argument as he walked toward the stairs.
The couple simply nodded, seemingly already aware of his visit and Harry's plans for the holiday.
Harry looked absolutely exhilarated when he saw Maverick standing outside his room. Before Maverick could even ask, the boy grinned and said he was ready and had already packed.
When Maverick asked if he needed a few more days, Harry shook his head decisively.
"Aunt Marge is coming for a visit soon, and... I'd rather be anywhere else."
"Aunt?" Maverick raised an eyebrow, a bit puzzled at first before a memory clicked him.
Ah... right. In the original story, there was a woman who visited during the summer. A pig, actually. And after that, Harry was supposed to have his first run-in with the Night Bus.
And if he remembered correctly… Sirius Black... his animagus form was also supposed to make his first appearance around that time.
Thinking it over, Maverick immediately spread his Magical-Sense to cover a few blocks in every direction from the house. But there were no traces of magic except for his and Harry's.
Seems the pup hasn't shown up yet. He shrugged the thought away.
"Anything interesting happen since the holidays started?" Maverick asked, glancing around Harry's room as he made his way over to the bed and sat down.
Harry, meanwhile, was busy tugging his god-awful-looking suitcase out of the closet.
"Argh—" Harry gave it a hard yank, then let it drop with a dull thud onto the floor. Letting out a breath, he straightened up. "The owl with this morning's paper hasn't shown up yet... but if it's about recently, the biggest thing I remember is about Ron's family."
Maverick raised a brow. "Weasleys?"
"Yeah," Harry said as he opened the suitcase and gave everything inside one last check. "It's actually got something to do with you, Professor. Mr. Weasley joined your company, right? That made the papers. Said he got a big-salary job, high-ranking position… it even made the second page."
Maverick smiled faintly. "I didn't think that'd make headlines."
A month ago, Arthur Weasley had finally agreed to leave his Ministry job and join Magitech. Maverick had given him a generous starting bonus, sure, but he hadn't exactly broadcast the news.
Harry nodded. "The Prophet made a big deal out of it. They even interviewed him. The whole Weasley family ended up in a photo. Ron looked ridiculous... like, properly silly. Even Scabbers got into the shot."
Thud!
Harry shut the suitcase after stuffing in a few last-minute items, then looked up at Maverick with an expression that said, I'm ready.
Maverick gave a slow hum. "You do remember that the ring I gave you has expanded space inside it, right?"
"Of course… ah…" Harry began, but then his voice trailed off as he glanced down at the oversized suitcase beside him, then at the ring on his finger, and finally back up at Maverick while looking properly embarrassed.
"If Granger were here," Maverick added sighing as he got up, "I can already hear her calling you an idiot to your face."
Harry scratched the back of his head, then placed a hand on the suitcase, making it disappear into the ring with a quiet shimmer of light. He looked so flustered that he didn't even bother taking the items out individually, and just stuffed the whole thing in as it was.
"Well then," Maverick said, gesturing toward the door. "First, go let your aunt and uncle know that you're leaving now and will be back in a few weeks."
Little Potter gave a quick nod, then dashed out of the room before returning only a minute later, looking all set and ready.
---
With a quiet pop, Maverick and Harry Apparated to an upper-middle-class neighborhood in another part of London—Hampstead, to be exact. The area was calm, the streets lined with neat hedges and parked cars, and the houses had that familiar, tidy British suburban charm. They strolled a short way down the street until they stopped in front of one such house.
"Is this where Hermione lives?" Harry asked, glancing around.
"Yes," Maverick said as he stepped forward and pressed the doorbell.
A moment later, the door opened to reveal a man who looked to be in his late thirties. Maverick immediately recognized him as Mr. Granger—Hermione's father.
Thankfully, the little witch had already informed her parents that Maverick would be coming to pick her up, so they weren't caught off guard. Still, the Granger couple were understandably cautious. They were kind and polite, but also clearly protective of their daughter. Even knowing he was her professor, they didn't let their guard down right away.
They asked questions—lots of them. Where were they going? What would they be doing? How long would she be away? When would she be home? Maverick answered everything patiently. He didn't mind. They were parents, after all, and their concern was only natural.
Hermione, however, looked like she wanted to disappear into the floor. Her face turned pink as she watched her professor being cross-examined like some kind of criminal. She finally had to step in and drag her parents back to reality, muttering something about trust and how she wasn't a child anymore.
They stayed for a while, long enough to accept a lunch invitation from Mrs. Granger, who had prepared a simple but delicious spread. It wasn't until a couple of hours later that Maverick and Harry finally took their leave, and of course, Hermione Granger joined them as well.
—————————
Author's Note:
🔥 Drop those Power Stones! 🔥
If you're enjoying the story and wish to support me, you can visit my P@tr3on, where you can read 30+ extra chapters ahead!
Thank you so much for your support. It means the world! 💙😊
PAT r30n [.] com / RyanFic