005 Encounter

With the Chomping Cabbage tucked in his arms, Harry walked down the street with somewhat unsteady steps.

Although the Chomping Cabbage had quieted down, Harry still felt like he was carrying a bomb. If only he had returned this thing to Mr. Westeros, Harry thought with some regret. However, now that it was in his hands, Harry certainly couldn't throw it away.

With an anxious heart, Harry arrived at the Dursley's doorstep. But then, the worst possible thing happened.

Dudley was standing at the door with a lollipop in his mouth, glaring fiercely at the street. When he saw Harry, his fat face immediately crumpled into a ball, revealing his customary nasty expression.

"Hey, Potter! Didn't my dad tell you to stay in the house?" Dudley raised his chin.

Harry pursed his lips, not answering. Although he didn't want to pay attention to Dudley, his attitude clearly angered his cousin.

Seeing Harry remain silent, Dudley immediately felt challenged. He crushed and rudely spat out his lollipop stick and stepped forward, giving Harry a hard shove.

"Did you hear me, Potter?" Dudley shouted, "What were you doing outside?"

Harry stumbled, nearly falling over. Worse still, he couldn't keep a firm hold on the Chomping Cabbage in his arms. With a "plop," the green plant fell directly to the ground.

"This is bad," Harry muttered.

Just as Harry feared, the Chomping Cabbage on the ground was clearly displeased. It shook its leaves, opened its tooth-filled mouth, and emitted a low "hissing" sound, like an angered wild beast.

"What the hell is that thing?!" Dudley's eyes widened, his voice full of fear and disgust. "I'm warning you, don't bring that disgusting freak into my house."

Harry frowned, knowing that delaying would only make things worse. He crouched down, trying to quickly pick up the Chomping Cabbage.

However, the Chomping Cabbage had no intention of cooperating. It moved much faster than Harry had imagined. The Chomping Cabbage suddenly sprang up, leaping like it had springs attached, aiming straight for Dudley's stomach.

"Ahhh!" Dudley let out a heart-wrenching scream, and waved his arms frantically, trying to fend off the little green monster.

But the Chomping Cabbage was incredibly agile. It climbed directly onto Dudley's shoulder and bit his face hard.

"Get off! Get off!" Dudley screamed, spinning around wildly on the spot like an enraged wild boar.

Seeing Dudley's frenzied state, Harry also became a bit panicked, but at the same time felt a secret delight.

Who told his cousin to bully him all the time? What was happening now was entirely his own fault.

Fortunately, the Chomping Cabbage didn't go for the kill. After taking a mouthful of fresh blood, it let Dudley go.

Dudley covered his face, and screamed as he rushed through the front door, and hit the wall with a dull "thud." His fat body moved with a completely abnormal agility as he ran up the stairs, wailing: "Mom! Mom! A monster bit me!"

Of course, no one would respond to him. Aunt Petunia wasn't home at this time.

Finally, Dudley stumbled into his room and locked the door in fear.

Harry stood there, watching the Chomping Cabbage smugly swinging its leaves. He carefully held the Chomping Cabbage in his hands, "Well done, little one!"

"But please don't bite people randomly, even though he's a nasty piece of work, we can't really send him to the hospital, right?"

The Chomping Cabbage nodded, as if responding to Harry.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that the Chomping Cabbage could understand his words and meaning.

He looked at the Chomping Cabbage in his hand, and frowned, "But now the question is—where should I hide you?"

The Dursleys' garden was obviously not a good choice. If someone saw it, there would certainly be big problems.

In the end, Harry found a pot with a hole in it that nobody wanted in the storage room, gathered some soil from the garden, planted the Chomping Cabbage in it, and hid it in his cupboard.

Just as he had finished everything and was lying on his bed in the cupboard, the sound of the door opening came through.

The Dursleys had returned.

Harry sighed, knowing that tonight would certainly not be peaceful.

...........

Early the next morning, Harry climbed out of bed, rubbing his forehead.

Just last night, after Dudley had complained to the Dursleys, Harry had been yelled at for a full two hours.

At breakfast, his aunt glared at him fiercely and said, "You won't have a chance to sneak out again. Today I'll be watching you constantly."

Harry turned his gaze toward Dudley, who was stuffing pancakes into his mouth while smirking. The left side of his face was covered with a palm-sized bandage, looking utterly ridiculous.

However, Harry had no time to dwell on this funny sight. He tiredly stirred the thin porridge in his bowl, growing increasingly anxious.

Just yesterday, he had promised Mr. Westeros that he would continue learning how to brew Essence of Dittany today.

If he couldn't make it on time...

"Mr. Westeros will definitely be disappointed," Harry thought.

Although he knew Mr. Westeros probably wouldn't be angry, Harry couldn't help thinking this way.

"Eat quickly, don't dawdle!" Aunt Petunia urged sharply. "After you finish, go pull the weeds and clean up the front yard immediately!"

Harry tried not to show his anxious expression and responded quietly, "Yes, Aunt Petunia."

'Perhaps there would be a chance to run out while cleaning the front yard.'

However, Harry quickly dismissed this idea because while he was cleaning, his aunt kept watching him through the window.

Just as Harry was beginning to despair—

"Ding dong."

The doorbell rang.

"Coming," his aunt responded, and Harry saw her leave the sofa.

After about fifteen seconds...

"Harry! Come here for a moment," his aunt's voice came from the doorway.

Harry was puzzled but put down his tools and walked toward the door.

When he saw Adrian standing outside, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Good morning, Harry!" Adrian greeted. "I guessed you might encounter some difficulties, so I came to pick you up."

"Good morning, Mr. Westeros," Harry nervously greeted, then carefully glanced at his aunt standing nearby.

His aunt had put aside her usually sour and mean demeanor and was instead smiling at Westeros.

Harry was taken aback for a moment, then realized—this was the effect of magic!

Seeing Harry's stunned expression, Adrian added gently, "I've already spoken with your family. I'll be taking you out for a while and send bring you back this evening."

"Ah—" Harry was about to say something, but noticed his aunt's expression hadn't changed at all; she just nodded.

"Shall we go, then?" Westeros smiled slightly.

Harry hesitated for a second, then stepped across the threshold to stand beside Adrian.

"How did you..." he asked curiously in a lowered voice.

"I told Mrs. Dursley that we have a community activity for children, and after completing it, you would receive a potted plant," Adrian explained quietly, winking at Harry.

"That sounds unreliable," Harry couldn't help replying.

"But magic is reliable, isn't it?" Adrian shrugged.

He simply waved his wand once and did all this.

Invading a Muggle's memory was as easy as pie for him.

As long as the Ministry of Magic didn't find out...