Chapter 208. Harry's Holiday
Adrian Wesson thought he might be the first wizard in the world to possess two Patronuses.
Also the first to have a plant-shaped Patronus.
He still didn't know what was special about a Tree of Wisdom Patronus.
But he could clearly feel the warm, potent power flowing down from it.
"[Sir, Eldra will guard you always.]"
The gentle voice of the Tree of Wisdom sounded in his mind.
Wesson's lips curved.
Whatever the case, it certainly wasn't a bad thing.
He could feel the bond between himself and the Tree of Wisdom deepen.
Dobby stood to one side, staring blankly at all of this.
Naturally, it had noticed that enormous, tree-shaped Patronus.
But it couldn't quite make sense of it.
It trembled slightly and asked, "Mr Wesson, what is that?"
"A friend," Wesson said gently to the wide-eyed House-elf. "It's guarding this place. You needn't worry, Dobby."
Dobby nodded hesitantly.
It didn't really understand, but whatever the boss said had to be right.
Wesson smiled and flicked his wand; the silver oak Patronus broke into flecks of silver light and dissolved into the air.
He wondered how effective this Patronus would be against Dementors.
Perhaps he ought to find time to conduct a site visit to Azkaban.
Oh, he almost missed that place.
Last time he'd been too busy looking for someone to properly tour that famous wizarding prison.
After the Tree of Wisdom gained the power to guard, Wesson found his Patronus Charm had improved markedly.
Even without summoning Eldra, the ordinary hedgehog Patronus had grown more solid.
And, more interestingly, Wesson discovered he could now maintain the hedgehog Patronus for long stretches.
He didn't know what use that was, but having a lively little silver thing gambolling round him all the time did put him in better spirits.
Late July.
One in the morning.
Harry was in his room, racking his brains over a notebook.
On the table beside him, a terrifyingly thick A Rune Dictionary lay open, especially conspicuous.
Just a little more—just a little more!
He was this close to fully deciphering that blasted Ancient Runes potion recipe.
A moment later, Harry slumped back in his chair in defeat.
So it still couldn't be done…
This sort of brainwork was more Hermione's forte.
Right—Hermione had said at the end of term that she'd be holidaying in France this summer.
Hmm, France. He didn't know what kind of place that was. Did they have a wizarding school like Hogwarts there?
Just as Harry's thoughts were wandering—
"Tap, tap!"
There came a knocking at the window.
Harry leapt from his chair, hurried to the window, and yanked the curtains open.
In the moonlight, several owls were gently pecking the glass with their beaks, parcels and envelopes clutched in their talons.
The moment Harry opened the window, the owls fluttered into the room and dropped the letters and parcels onto his bed.
Harry's eyes lit up—at last.
It was his birthday today.
His friends certainly wouldn't forget to send presents. At once, Harry tore open all the parcels.
Ron had sent him a Pocket Sneakoscope from Egypt. As The Daily Prophet had reported, the Weasley family were currently travelling in Egypt. What a lucky lot…
Hermione had sent the very thing he'd been wanting: a Broomstick Servicing Kit. She was on holiday in France now.
Hagrid had posted a card, along with a month's supply of cream toffees, which made Harry's teeth itch at the thought.
There was one more parcel—from Wesson.
Naturally, his dearest teacher hadn't forgotten his birthday.
The present was a box of black-looking biscuits, with a little note stuck to the lid:
Magic biscuits to keep you cool all day in summer.
Harry picked one up and ate it on the spot; it was a touch bitter.
But very soon, he felt a cool breath spread from his throat through his whole body. The sticky summer heat vanished in an instant, and even the stuffy air in the room turned crisp and pleasant, as though it were already autumn.
"Amazing…"
Harry muttered, and popped another biscuit into his mouth.
He regretted it at once, because the weather seemed to skip from autumn straight to winter.
Shivering, he wrapped himself in his blanket and opened the last, rather thick letter.
This one was from Hogwarts, with some start-of-term notes and a list of required items.
Harry couldn't help feeling a touch sentimental—time really did fly. In the blink of an eye, there was only a month of summer left.
There was another bit of news—third-years would be permitted to visit Hogsmeade.
Harry knew that village; his teacher often went to the pub there with Professor Flitwick, and he'd long wanted to have a look round himself.
Unfortunately, to go he would have to get a parent or guardian to sign a permission form.
At this moment, he really wished Wesson were his guardian.
His aunt and uncle would never sign that form.
No—perhaps they might.
Harry suddenly remembered that ever since his teacher had paid his aunt and uncle a visit last year, they had become markedly more restrained in their tone with him. Though they still scolded him, at least they no longer raised their hands.
Yes, they were probably very wary of his teacher.
Maybe he could use that to get them to sign the permission form…
Harry lay on his bed turning over strategies, and soon drifted off to sleep.
Early the next morning, when Harry came downstairs, the Dursleys were eating breakfast around the television.
The news channel was on; it seemed to be about a vicious criminal.
Harry glanced at the television, then fixed his gaze on the Dursleys.
The Dursleys had evidently come to some sort of agreement; upon hearing Harry on the stairs, they didn't even turn their heads, but spoke loudly about whatever was on the screen.
In fact, Harry had stayed in his room all summer and barely exchanged a few words with them.
He felt he'd grown quite a bit taller lately, but the change in his cousin Dudley seemed even greater—
Not only had he shot up, he now had five extra chins.
Harry walked straight to his Aunt Petunia, holding out the Hogsmeade permission form before her.
Startled by the parchment suddenly thrust under her nose, Petunia nearly spilled her coffee.
Her eyes bulged as she shrieked, "What are you playing at?"
Expressionless, Harry held up the Hogsmeade permission form and said evenly, "It's a document from Hogwarts. It needs your signatures."
He didn't say exactly what it was, hoping Petunia would sign it quickly without reading the contents.
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