That night, at Number Four, Privet Drive.
Harry Potter felt this was the worst birthday he had ever had.
He stood blankly outside the living room, watching the giant cake smash directly onto the guests' heads.
"Dobby is doing this for Harry Potter's good! Harry Potter should not go to school this year; there will be great danger!"
The house-elf Dobby, who had rushed in shouting about "friendship and bonds," disappeared with a pop after uttering those words.
After a day of labor, his dinner consisted of only two pieces of bread and a few pieces of cheese.
Harry foresaw his dark and miserable future.
Perhaps he would be locked up by the Dursley family for his entire life, starving to death in his bedroom.
Today was also his birthday.
Harry bit his lip, not wanting to show any vulnerability.
His nails dug into his flesh as he prepared for Uncle Vernon's furious outburst.
"You, you lunatic!" Uncle Vernon stood up like a grizzly bear, his face purple with embarrassment and anger. "Get back—" "Bang!"
A sudden loud bang from the front door interrupted Vernon's outburst.
It made the poor guest, Mrs. Mason, shriek.
"Good evening, everyone."
Upon hearing that clear and distinctive voice, Harry's eyes first widened in disbelief, then slowly lit up.
His previously shriveled mood gradually began to expand again. Harry slowly turned his head to look.
At the doorway stood a familiar figure.
Elegant black curly hair with a hint of wildness, a delicate and handsome porcelain-doll-like pale face, and a pair of deep, serene cobalt-blue eyes.
It was Ethan Vincent!
He had come to save him!
Immediately, the tears Harry had held back for so long almost spilled out.
Ethan, carrying a gold-handled cane, walked in as naturally as if he were strolling through his own home. The door behind him hung askew from its frame, as if it had been slapped by a strong man.
Ethan walked up to Harry.
Looking at his tense features and red eyes, he raised a hand, patted Harry's shoulder, and comforted him: "Don't be so emotional, my son."
Harry: ""
Two seconds later, he finally couldn't help but let out a burst of laughter, his tears turning into smiles.
Grinning widely, he looked at Ethan foolishly, as if his IQ had suddenly dropped into negative numbers.
Just then...
"You, who exactly are you?! Get out of my house!"
Uncle Vernon's thick voice rang out.
Due to the presence of guests—though they were already stunned—Uncle Vernon couldn't pull out his double-barreled shotgun.
But the other party was just a child.
So he walked over angrily, and using his large frame, he grabbed Ethan's shoulder and leaned in to say, "I know who you are, Harry's those Wi—, Wizards, right?"
As he spoke, Uncle Vernon shivered.
It was as if merely uttering that word would make strong men crawl all over him.
"I don't care what your purpose is, get out now! I will never let you take Harry! My house is not for entertaining you disgusting freaks—"
Uncle Vernon's voice suddenly stopped.
His gaze fell on the business card Ethan held up in his hand.
It had words on it that he couldn't understand.
However, it was as if mountains of gold were crushing down on him, and an immeasurable aura of wealth instantly engulfed Dursley!
Dursley couldn't help but withdraw the hand gripping Ethan's shoulder and took two steps back.
It wasn't just him.
Everyone present froze, staring blankly at that business card.
Even Mrs. Mason, despite having half her face covered in cake, instinctively showed a fawning smile.
This business card, given by an old goblin, could release a terrifying pressure of money.
Ethan called it "Golden Experience."
"A meeting gift like this should be enough, right?"
Ethan looked at Dursley's shocked expression and put away the business card with satisfaction.
"You, you—who exactly are you?!"
Dursley was dumbfounded, breathing heavily.
How could that freak know such a powerful being?!
This was impossible!
Ethan: "Me? I'm just a humble aspiring painter."
Ethan extended his hand, smiling innocently, "Shall we get acquainted?"
Dursley was extremely suspicious.
However, under the pressure of the money just now, his tall frame involuntarily hunched.
He instinctively obeyed Ethan's words and shook his hand.
He didn't see Harry's hesitant expression beside him.
The next second...
He saw terrifying red rashes crawling up his arm.
They formed a grinning smiley face.
Uncle Vernon: "!!!"
He stared at the crimson smiley face, his small, beady eyes instantly widening on his swollen purple face.
Then, a terrified scream erupted!
"Ahhhhhh!!!"
A moment later...
Harry stood under the cool night sky, holding all his luggage, feeling as if everything that had just happened was a dream!
He could hardly believe that he had actually gotten out so "smoothly"!
Ha!
Harry felt he could remember Uncle Vernon's terrified expression for a lifetime!
It was just a pity he couldn't capture it with a camera.
Harry thought with satisfaction.
And all this miraculousness was thanks to his somewhat strange friend, Ethan Vincent.
Harry then worried, "Ethan, you used magic just now, are you okay?"
Ethan blinked, cunningly saying, "I was just displaying my artwork. Without a wand, how could it be considered casting a spell?"
"Phew, that's good."
His only worry was gone.
Harry narrowed his eyes, feeling the cool breeze on his face, feeling incomparably refreshed.
He couldn't help but exclaim,
"The moonlight is beautiful tonight..."
He turned his head and met Ethan's battle-ready expression.
Harry: "...What are you doing?"
Ethan: "Thinking about how to blow up the moon."
Harry: ""
Alright.
Harry said shyly and sincerely, "Thank you for saving me from that hell, Ethan—"
Hearing this, Ethan snorted, disdainfully saying, "Hell? Looks like you haven't seen the good stuff."
Harry: ""
Stop talking nonsense, please.
Ethan: "Hermione and Ron are both very worried about you. Oh, and this is your birthday present. Happy Birthday, Harry."
With that, Ethan pulled out a paper box tied with a red ribbon from his embrace.
Harry was surprised: "Oh my! Thank you, Ethan! Can I open it—hmm? It... seems to be empty?"
Harry looked at the empty box in confusion, thinking:
Is it "the emperor's new gift"?
Only smart people can see it?
Ethan leaned over to look, letting out an "Oh dear."
Pointing to the large hole on the side of the box, he said, "It actually ran out. It was still in there when we entered your house."
Harry looked at the cut, which seemed to have been made by a saw, and swallowed.
He asked with an embarrassed smile,
"Th-this gift is harmless, right?"
Ethan curved his lips, giving a smile that said it all.
Just then— "Ahhhhh!!!"
"What is that?! There's a spider! Ahhh, gurgle..."
From the house behind them, a sudden commotion and screams erupted!
Meeting Harry's increasingly horrified gaze, Ethan raised his arms and smiled kindly,
"Happy Birthday, Harry~"
Excellent.
It seemed he had given the first member of his club a very memorable birthday.
Congratulations, congratulations.
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