"His house was a mess, wasn't it?" Having successfully recruited Horace, Aiden and Harry walked down the street. Aiden spoke first.
"What was that all about?" Harry asked, somewhat confused.
"You see, Horace is from Slytherin. He's shrewd and ambitious, so he likes to groom promising students."
Aiden pulled out some coconut ice cream and offered it to Harry, but he refused.
"You got to him too. When negotiating, don't give the other person too much time to think. Keep them off balance. The more confused they are, the easier it is to catch them making mistakes. And mistakes are our openings."
The seasoned Visionary tried to pass on as much as possible to Harry, because the storm meant for him was about to arrive.
Walking to the statue at the neighborhood entrance, Aiden glanced at the sky.
"I'm sorry to cut your evening short, Harry."
"It's okay; I can go back tomorrow and smooth things over with her," Harry said, showing Aiden a knowing smile.
"No, I mean you'll have to stay at the Burrow for a while. Dumbledore has already gone to the Dursleys' to pack your luggage. If we hurry there now, we should still make it."
The dragon didn't accept Harry's expression but instead showed him a mischievous smile.
"What? Whoa—" Harry was caught off guard and dragged into the sea of consciousness by Aiden again.
Little Whinging, Number Four, Privet Drive, the Dursley residence.
Harry leaned forward with his hands on his knees, gasping for breath.
"Can't you warn me before Apparating?" Harry complained.
Just then, Dumbledore also appeared at the end of the road with a phoenix's cry.
He used the Deluminator to extinguish all the surrounding streetlights.
"Good evening, Professor Dumbledore," Aiden said, walking forward.
"I thought you'd tell me something like, 'Long time no see; you're looking well,'" Dumbledore said with a mischievous wink.
"Well, it has been about fifty years since we last met, Professor," Aiden replied with a slight smile.
"Fifty years?" Harry's eyes widened, looking at Aiden in disbelief.
"Don't look at me like that. I just used time magic to go back to the past and do a few small things," Aiden said modestly, adjusting his hat.
"All right, we need to move quickly, or we'll disturb the Dursleys' rest."
Dumbledore waved his wand. The Dursleys' fence and gate automatically opened, and he led the two inside.
"Ah!" Petunia screamed when she saw someone break in, then calmed down after recognizing Dumbledore's face.
"Good Lord," Vernon said. Coming out carrying ice cream, he was also startled and dropped his spoon.
The ice cream from the spoon got on the carpet, nearly making Petunia faint.
"Good evening, Petunia, Vernon. The agapanthus you planted outside looks lovely."
Dumbledore greeted them very politely.
"What are you doing here again? Don't you know this is illegal trespassing!" Vernon said, mustering his courage to scold Dumbledore.
"I thought you'd be very welcoming."
Dumbledore pretended not to understand the atmosphere and spoke rather dejectedly.
Then he waved his wand. The sofa whooshed up and struck the knees of the three Dursleys.
They stumbled and fell onto the sofa. Dumbledore waved his wand again, and the sofa rolled back to its original position.
"Since that's the case, you might as well sit down properly," Dumbledore said pleasantly.
Dumbledore took a seat with his two students. After waiting a while and realizing the Dursleys didn't want to serve them tea, he simply conjured a bottle of mead and six glasses. The liquor automatically poured into the cups, and the glasses flew toward the heads of the three Dursleys.
"Enough! What exactly do you want?" Vernon said, knocking over three glasses.
"To be honest, I'm very disappointed, Vernon, Petunia, with the harm you've caused Harry over these sixteen years."
Dumbledore narrowed his eyes, looking at the two.
"I hope you'll allow Harry to return here one more time before he turns seventeen," Dumbledore stated his request.
"All right, I agree!" Petunia hesitated, but still agreed.
"Petunia, what are you thinking? Didn't we agree that once he turns sixteen and can live independently, we'd throw him out!"
Vernon grabbed his wife's shoulder, bewildered.
"But Vernon, he's my sister's son, her last trace in this world," Petunia said, looking directly at Vernon, tears welling in her eyes.
Vernon fell silent. He released Petunia's shoulder and leaned back against the sofa.
Dumbledore gave Aiden a look. Aiden waved his wand, and Harry's luggage was automatically packed and stuffed into his pocket.
"I think it's time for me to leave. However, Petunia, Vernon, I must give you one final warning. Although over these years all Harry has received from you is neglect and abuse, the silver lining is that he at least escaped the harm you inflicted on the unfortunate boy sitting between you."
The blue pupils beneath Dumbledore's half-moon spectacles were filled with disappointment but also some relief.
After hearing Dumbledore's words, none of the Dursleys spoke, and only Dudley frowned, thinking about what abuse he'd suffered.
"So, time to say goodbye to them, Harry," Aiden said, patting Harry from behind.
"Goodbye," Harry said, giving them a cold greeting.
Outside, Dumbledore put on his hat.
"I'm afraid I don't have time to take you to Diagon Alley. I need to keep track of Tom's movements. I'll leave Harry with you."
Dumbledore glanced at Aiden, then turned his gaze to Harry.
"Harry, listen. I'm very sorry about Sirius being comatose, and I understand your sadness."
"I'm fine, Professor. Like the other Order members, I'll fight Voldemort and the Death Eaters to the end. Besides, don't I still have you all?"
Harry was strong and optimistic, but Aiden and Dumbledore exchanged glances and both looked away.
"Yes, you are indeed their child," Dumbledore said, patting Harry's shoulder.
Then...
"Whoa—oh—"
In a wave of icy fluctuations, Harry was brought into the collective unconscious sea.
Coming here for the third time, Harry had clearly developed a bit of tolerance.
He reached out to touch Aiden's cold scales and asked, "Aiden, can I learn this kind of magic like you in the future?"
Aiden was momentarily speechless and chose his words carefully.
"Quite a few people hope you'll practice another kind. It would definitely suit you, but I haven't found a way to teach that magic yet."
Aiden pursed his lips. Fortunately, in his dragon form, his facial expressions weren't obvious.
"But you have your own magic, Harry. From when you were young, you've been in contact with this power."
"What power?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"Love."