"Ahem…" Richard cleared his throat to draw everyone's attention. "Ladies and gentlemen, please, let's not rush to judgment. I understand that the situation looks unsightly, but perhaps it isn't quite as dire as it seems. Mr. Dursley, are you employed?"
"Yes…" Vernon answered uncertainly. A spark of hope flickered inside him. In a more confident tone, he continued, "I have an excellent job. I run Grunnings, a company that manufactures drills. I earn good money and provide for my family. Please, my Lord, believe me… I would never harm the boy!"
"Then why are your children dressed so differently?" Madam Taylor asked acidly. "And that raises a second question: what do you spend the money on that the state allocates for the orphan Harry Potter? I will require a very detailed report."
"Uh…" Mr. Dursley looked utterly baffled. "What money? We haven't received anything! I paid for Harry out of my own pocket."
"Don't feed me nonsense!" Madam Taylor snapped. "An orphan is entitled to an allowance of two hundred pounds per month, and as his guardians, you are required to submit reports to Child Protective Services detailing how those funds are spent, with receipts attached."
"No one from Child Protective Services has ever come to us before you," Mr. Dursley replied, even more bewildered.
"Madam Taylor," Richard interjected once more, "I suspect there has been some sort of bureaucratic error here. This incident clearly requires an investigation. For my part, I hereby state that through a charitable foundation I will be providing Harry Potter with a monthly stipend of two hundred pounds. Representatives of the foundation will oversee how these funds are used. Mr. and Mrs. Dursley will be required to submit monthly expense reports. Mr. Potter is to receive no less than five pounds a week as pocket money. And heaven help you if the boy doesn't receive it—or if your son Dudley or his friends steal it. In that case, criminal liability will fall on you as his guardians."
"Lord Grosvenor," Madam Taylor looked at the boy with puzzled disbelief, "are you proposing that the child remain with this dreadful family?"
Harry, realizing that this strange young lord was the one truly in charge, looked at him with tear-filled eyes and silently mouthed,
"Please…"
"Madam Taylor," Richard replied calmly, "let's give this family a chance."
Petunia and Vernon exhaled in relief at the same time. But realizing that this was not yet the end, they held their breath again and waited anxiously for the decision of the child welfare representative. Never in their lives had they been so frightened.
"Hm… Well, if the Lord insists…" Madam Taylor pondered.
"Please, ma'am," Richard said. "Let's not tear the family apart. After all, Harry himself says that he isn't treated all that badly. And I'm not suggesting that we let this matter slide. Naturally, since there have been multiple reports, this family must be closely monitored. As is standard in such cases, a representative from Child Protective Services should visit them weekly. From what I understand, it's Mr. and Mrs. Dursley and their son who require closer supervision than Mr. Potter. On my end, I will also engage a detective to conduct periodic, discreet checks on how the guardianship duties are being fulfilled."
"I suppose we can turn a blind eye to this for now," Madam Taylor said thoughtfully. "But only for now!" she added sternly, casting a severe look first at Mr. Dursley and then at Mrs. Dursley.
Vernon and Petunia let out a collective sigh of relief.
Harry Potter looked at Richard with gratitude and whispered softly,
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
Madam Taylor said,
"Mrs. Dursley, I will need all of Mr. Harry Potter's documents."
"Ma'am, they're kept in our bedroom," Petunia replied in a trembling voice. "Please, come with me."
Mr. Connor accompanied the lady of the house and the CPS representative.
At the same time, the constable took Mr. Dursley aside and began speaking to him quietly. Vernon listened to the officer with rapt attention.
Richie pricked up his ears and caught the gist of the conversation.
"Mr. Dursley, representatives from Child Protective Services and the charitable foundation will now be conducting inspections at your home. If you don't want legal trouble, you'd do well to provide them with complete and accurate reports."
"Yes, yes, Constable," Vernon nodded, his thick neck bobbing.
"There are a few more rules you should remember," the police officer continued. "Your children must be dressed equally well. God help you if a CPS worker notices Harry Potter wearing tattered clothes—you'll have no end of problems. And start disciplining your son Dudley. Child Protective Services will also be assessing whether you are unfit parents. As things stand, you're already bordering on some of the worst guardians imaginable and could lose your parental rights at any moment. If your son continues to bully or beat other children, it will all be entered into your personal file. Any bruises or other injuries on Harry Potter will be documented, and it's unlikely you'll be able to prove that you weren't responsible. In that case, you'd be facing prison time."
Vernon was terrified, nodding in rhythm with every word the police officer spoke.
(End of Chapter)
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