Cradling the Chinese Chomping Cabbage, Harry drifted along the street on unsteady feet.
Although the cabbage had quietened down, he still felt as if he were holding a bomb.
I should've given this thing back to Mr Wesson, Harry thought with a twinge of regret.
Still, now that it was in his hands, there was no way he could throw it away.
With his nerves jangling, Harry reached the Dursleys' front door.
And then the very thing he least wanted to see happened.
Dudley was standing in the doorway with a lollipop in his mouth, glowering down the street.
The moment he spotted Harry, his fat face scrunched up, wearing its usual nasty look.
"Hey, Potter! Didn't my dad tell you to stay at home?" Dudley lifted his chin.
Harry pressed his lips together and didn't answer.
He didn't want to deal with Dudley, but his silence clearly infuriated him.
Seeing Harry keep quiet, Dudley felt challenged at once.
He spat the lollipop to one side, stomped forward and gave Harry a hard shove.
"Did you hear me, Potter?" he yelled. "What were you doing out there?"
Harry staggered and nearly fell.
Worse, he didn't manage to keep hold of the Chinese Chomping Cabbage in his arms.
There was a "plop" as the bright green plant dropped to the ground.
"This is bad," Harry muttered.
Exactly as he feared, the cabbage seemed highly displeased. It shook its leaves, opened a mouth bristling with teeth and let out a low "hiss" like an enraged wild animal.
"What is that disgusting thing?!" Dudley's eyes bulged, his voice full of terror and loathing. "I'm warning you—don't bring that filthy freakish thing into my house."
Harry frowned, knowing that dawdling would only make it worse.
He crouched and tried to scoop the cabbage up quickly.
But the Chinese Chomping Cabbage had no intention of cooperating; it was far faster than Harry had imagined.
With a sudden spring, it shot up as if on a coil, aiming straight for Dudley's stomach.
"Arrrggh!" Dudley screamed, flailing wildly in panic, trying to fend off the little green monster.
The cabbage was astonishingly nimble. It scrambled up onto Dudley's shoulder and sank its teeth into his face.
"Get off! Get off!" Dudley howled, spinning on the spot like an enraged boar.
Watching Dudley lose his head, Harry panicked a little too—but at the same time, he couldn't help a flicker of grim satisfaction.
Serves him right for bullying me all the time.
Fortunately, the cabbage didn't go for the kill. After a bloody mouthful, it let Dudley go.
Clutching his face and shrieking, Dudley barrelled into the house and thudded into the wall with a dull "bang".
His bulk moved with a speed that defied nature as he thundered up the stairs, wailing, "Mum! Mum! A monster bit me!"
Of course, no one answered him.
Aunt Petunia wasn't home at this hour.
At last, Dudley stumbled into his room and slammed the door, turning the lock with a rattle.
Harry stayed where he was, watching the cabbage flick its leaves with smug delight. He carefully scooped it back into his hands. "Nicely done, little fellow!"
"But please don't bite people at random. He's a pain, yes, but we can't actually have him end up in hospital, can we?"
The cabbage bobbed its head as if in reply.
Harry breathed out in relief. Thankfully, it could understand him—and seemed willing to listen.
He studied the plant in his hands, brow furrowing. "The question now is—where am I going to hide you?"
The Dursleys' garden was obviously out of the question; if anyone saw it, there'd be real trouble.
In the end, Harry found an unwanted flowerpot with a broken rim in the cupboard, took some soil from the garden, planted the Chinese Chomping Cabbage and hid it in his cupboard.
Just as he finished and lay down on his bed in the cupboard, he heard the front door open.
The Dursleys were home.
Harry sighed. He knew tonight would be anything but peaceful.
…..
Early the next morning, Harry dragged himself out of bed and rubbed his brow.
After Dudley tattled to Mr and Mrs Dursley last night, Harry had been scolded for a full two hours.
At breakfast, his aunt said viciously, "You're not getting the chance to sneak off again. I'll be watching you all day."
Harry glanced at Dudley, who was stuffing pancakes into his mouth with a cold smirk.
The left side of Dudley's face was covered with a palm-sized bandage. It looked ridiculous.
Harry had no time to enjoy the sight. Wearily stirring his thin porridge, he only grew more anxious.
He'd promised Mr Wesson just yesterday that he'd go back today to continue learning how to brew Dittany Essence.
If he couldn't be on time—
"Mr Wesson will be disappointed," Harry thought.
He knew Adrian Wesson probably wouldn't be angry, but he couldn't help thinking it all the same.
"Hurry up and stop dawdling!" Aunt Petunia snapped. "As soon as you're done, get out there and weed. I want the front garden spotless!"
Harry tried not to let his agitation show. "Yes, Aunt," he murmured.
Maybe, he thought, he'd get a chance to slip out while tidying the front.
But he abandoned the idea almost at once, because his aunt watched him the whole time through the window.
Just as Harry was falling into despair—
"Ding-dong."
The doorbell rang.
"Coming!"
After the reply, Harry saw his aunt rise from the sofa.
A dozen seconds later—
"Harry! Come here a moment," Aunt Petunia called from the door.
Puzzled, Harry put down his tools and walked over.
When he saw Adrian Wesson standing outside, he couldn't help the rush of relief.
"Good morning, Harry!" Wesson said cheerfully. "I thought you might run into a spot of bother, so I came to fetch you."
"Good morning, Mr Wesson," Harry said nervously, sneaking a glance at his aunt.
To his surprise, Aunt Petunia had put away her usual sharp, sour expression and was actually smiling at Wesson.
Harry froze, then cottoned on—this was magic!
Seeing him dumbstruck, Wesson added gently, "I've already cleared it with your family. I'll take you out for a bit and bring you home this evening."
"Ah—" Harry began, but Aunt Petunia's expression didn't change in the slightest; she only nodded.
"Shall we?" Wesson smiled.
Harry hesitated a second, then stepped over the threshold to stand beside Mr Wesson.
"How did you…?" he asked in a low, curious voice.
"I told Mrs Dursley we're running a community activity for children," Wesson murmured, giving Harry a quick wink. "When you're done, you'll receive a potted plant."
"Sounds dodgy," Harry couldn't help saying.
"But magic isn't, is it?" Wesson shrugged.
He had only to wave his wand to manage such things.
Invading a Muggle's memories was child's play to him.
So long as the Ministry didn't notice…
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