Harry Potter and the Candy Factory

“By the way…”

Charlie paused, as if something had occurred to him.

He gently rubbed his ring with his finger.

The red gemstone on the ring shimmered, and then a beautifully wrapped gift box appeared in his hand.

“Harry’s birthday is coming up soon… I don’t think I’ll be able to make it there on time to celebrate with him.”

Charlie said softly as he slowly stood up, placing the exquisite gift box in front of the wardrobe.

“Could you help me take this to him? And also tell him, Charlie Black wishes him a happy birthday…”

“…”

No sound came from the wardrobe in response, as if Dobby, who had been hiding inside, had already left.

But Charlie didn't pay much attention to it. After saying everything, he yawned to himself, then turned around and walked back to his bed unhurriedly, as if nothing had happened.

“So sleepy… Goodnight!”

Inside the wardrobe, Dobby, curled up, wiped away the tears welling up in his eyes… He listened intently to Charlie's voice outside the wardrobe.

When the last “Goodnight” fell, a crisp snap of fingers sounded, and then the entire room returned to darkness.

“Mr. Harry Potter…”

Dobby murmured to himself, seemingly lost in thought.

He didn't know how long had passed before Charlie's breathing gradually became steady, indicating that he had fallen asleep.

Only then did Dobby finally carefully open a crack in the wardrobe door, peering out at the pitch-black room through the gap.

He lowered his head, looking at the beautifully wrapped gift box in front of the wardrobe, and reached out his hands, as if holding the most precious thing in the world, solemnly picking it up from the ground.

Gently peeling off the cream-colored silk ribbon that bound the gift box, he saw a note card tucked into the large bow.

The note card didn't have anything else written on it, only an address: Number 4, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey.

Dobby took off the note card, then carefully stuffed the gift box into the pillowcase he was wearing, holding the note card in silence.

Then, a light flashed from inside the wardrobe.

In the morning, Charlie opened his eyes from his sleep.

The first thing he did upon waking was to turn his head towards the wardrobe door, like a child on Christmas Eve anticipating a gift from Santa Claus.

But while Santa Claus would bring gifts, the gift box that he had placed there had disappeared.

Seeing this, Charlie smiled.

Then he got out of bed, smoothed out the clothes that had been crumpled, put them on, and walked straight out of the room.

Everything was no different than before.

… … … … … … … … …

At the same time…

Harry, having had a good night's sleep, put on his glasses and couldn't help but stretch, a comfortable smile on his face.

This was his first day moving out of the cupboard under the stairs into his new room.

Although the so-called new room was just Dudley's old room, Harry was content.

After all, not having to sleep in that cramped and narrow space was already a great blessing, what more could he ask for…

And everything, everything started with that chocolate bar the night before last…

Harry, who had thought the prank was successful and had gone to bed early, hadn't actually slept for very long.

Because soon, his furious Uncle Dursley, like a rampaging hippopotamus, kicked open the small door of the cupboard, and then, while Harry was still drowsy, grabbed him and dragged him out.

Believe me, that was the first time Harry knew that a person's face could turn that red.

Dursley's face, filled with fat, looked like a boiling kettle.

His temples throbbed, and the veins that were originally hidden beneath the fat bulged on his forehead, forming a ferocious "well" shape.

The anger in his small, pitiful eyes seemed capable of burning Harry to ashes.

Almost the instant he was dragged out, Harry, who was still a little dazed, was startled by such a terrifying face, and immediately swept away his drowsiness.

“Harry… Potter!!!!!”

Dursley roared in his face, spraying saliva all over Harry's face.

Harry's heart sank to the bottom.

“It's over, I've been discovered.”

That was the first thought that came to his mind.

But even so, Harry Potter, knowing the rules, still mustered his courage, subconsciously curled up his body, and then cautiously asked:

“What happened, Uncle?”

“What happened…” Dursley repeated his words through gritted teeth, and then, without waiting for him to react, his thick arms grabbed his collar.

And just like that, he dragged him all the way upstairs with a "thump, thump, thump".

“Thump!”

Harry was thrown to the ground, and he couldn't help but grit his teeth and rub his sore buttocks, then raised his head, subconsciously looking around to see what the situation was.

Only then did he notice that he had been dragged all the way to Dudley's room.

In front of him, Dudley was curled up on his bed, covering his face with his hands and crying, his body shivering unconsciously from time to time, looking very pitiful.

However, Harry almost couldn't help but laugh out loud when he saw this scene, because he noticed that between the gaps of Dudley's small, chubby hands, there was clearly a strangely shaped pig face.

Unfortunately, he soon couldn't laugh anymore. Because Harry noticed that his aunt was also slumped on the chair in Dudley's room, her face pale, humming and hawing as she leaned against the back of the chair.

Seeing Harry being dragged over by Dursley, her eyes suddenly became resentful, her expression ferocious, just like her husband.

“Look who's here! You filthy little half-breed!”

Perhaps due to weakness, her voice was no longer as full of energy as before. But the hatred and resentment in it were several times greater than before, causing the goosebumps on Harry's arms to pop out uncontrollably.

“Your uncle and I adopted you, allowing you to live until now! Letting you have clothes to wear and go to school! Not having to fight for food with those unwanted little mudballs in the orphanage…

Even… even treating you like our own son!!

But what about you? What have you done!? You filthy bastard! A monster without any humanity! A pathetic half-breed!”