"I don't want to go inside," Pabi said, shaking her head.
Harry raised an eyebrow and helplessly replied, "Alright, since you don't want to go in, then sleep outside."
Pabi cheered again and jumped onto the bed, even patting the blanket with her hoof, "Come on up, Harry, sister will sleep with you—"
"I'm not a child anymore," Harry couldn't help but laugh.
Harry was amused by Pabi's playfulness. Thankfully, she was a Unicorn; otherwise, if Vivi or Cassandra knew about this...
Eh? Why am I thinking like this? He muttered to himself.
In the middle of the night, Harry groggily felt as if a big sister in a Hufflepuff robe was sleeping beside him.
He opened his eyes and found Pabi dozing off while standing on the bed.
Oh, he remembered, horses sleep standing up...
He didn't mind much and turned over, soon falling back asleep.
Seeing Harry turn over and sleep, the standing Pabi let out a sigh of relief.
Early the next morning, Harry felt a heavy weight, as if some unbearable burden was pressing down on him.
Opening his eyes, he saw Pabi's head resting on his chest, dreaming about eating something delicious, her mouth chewing away.
"Pabi..."
He struggled to breathe.
Do you know how much harm such a large horse's head is to a twelve-year-old kid?
"Uh?" Pabi gurgled and got up, noticing Harry's difficulty in breathing, she smiled and nudged his chest.
"Alright, alright, let's wash up first—come, I'll help you brush your teeth first," Harry said.
To his surprise, despite Pabi staying in the forest for so long, her teeth were still as pure white as snow.
He envied those good teeth, he thought.
"Are my teeth white?" Pabi mumbled indistinctly as Harry held her mouth.
"White," Harry brushed up and down, then fed Pabi a small basin of water, "Rinse your mouth."
Pabi obediently spat the water out, but ended up spraying it on Harry's face.
"Haha," she laughed cheerfully.
Harry helplessly wiped his face and put down the towel.
"Let's have breakfast first and then head back to Uncle's house—stay in my wallet for a while."
"Wallet?" Pabi stretched her head, "What wallet?"
"Compensation from Gringotts," Harry answered truthfully, "They compensated me, since Vivi's estate loss was due to their negligence."
"Eh? Such a thing?" Pabi asked curiously.
"You'll know when Vivi returns," Harry patted Pabi's head, "When he goes to Austria to settle accounts with Gellert, I'll bring you along, standing on the frontline."
"You absolutely mustn't forget, I love witnessing such scenes," Pabi said softly.
Harry assured her repeatedly; such interesting matters certainly couldn't be forgotten with a good friend.
"By the way, Harry," Pabi suddenly said, "Since you said Gringotts will bear the cost for finding materials, if you find Alchemy materials in France, remember to let Gringotts cover the bill..."
Pabi's words suddenly made Harry realize this point.
"You're right, Pabi," Harry nodded seriously, "I think this idea is indeed very viable."
After a quick breakfast at the Broken Cauldron Bar and settling the past two days' room fees, Harry Apparated back to the Dursley family.
It was a morning when the Dursley family was having breakfast.
Uncle Vernon had a cigarette in one hand and The Guardian in the other.
As one who believes he should manage the country, Uncle Vernon is exceptionally fond of The Guardian.
"I want some more bacon," Dudley said, "I haven't had enough, Mom."
"There's plenty in the frying pan, darling," Aunt Penny said with tears in her eyes, looking at her big son, "We must quickly fatten you up... school's meals make me uncomfortable..."
Before she finished, Harry spun into the kitchen.
The three of them froze, and Penny and Vernon screamed in unison.
"I think what's making you more uncomfortable is back," Dudley's fork dropped on the table, yet he quickly reacted, raising his hand to greet Harry, "Hi, hello Harry."
"Hello, cousin," Harry grabbed a chair and stretched his head towards the frying pan, "Ah, there's still bacon; I think I should have some more."
Dudley grinned foolishly at him.
You know, after not seeing Harry for a year, he really missed his cousin—especially the Chocolate Frogs and Cauldron Cakes his cousin brought. Just thinking of those treats brought tears uncontrollably from the corner of Dudley's mouth.
Harry didn't feel like an outsider at all; he barely had breakfast in the guest room in the morning, and the breakfast at the Broken Cauldron Bar was just too awful.
He watched Pabi eat happily and gave all the breakfast to Pabi.
Pabi also accepted it freely; whenever Harry offered, she ate. Harry even worriedly watched Pabi, thinking whether such eating would cause some adverse effects on her body?
"I seemed to have reminded you in the letter!" Uncle Vernon's face flushed as he slapped the table, "In this house! No such tricks are allowed!"
"Oh Uncle, hello," Harry seemed to have not heard Uncle Vernon's words at all and turned to Aunt Penny, "Hello Aunt, you look like you've become several years younger."
He wasn't fooling around; the fact is, there are cosmetic effects of Magic Potions in the Wizarding World that far surpass cosmetic products in the Muggle World.
The effect is truly immediate, regardless if it's pigmentation, freckles or other issues, just a little Beauty Potion will solve the problem instantly.
Hearing Harry's words, Aunt Penny's face eased much.
"Here's a good gift for you, Aunt," Harry took out a bunch of Beauty Potions from his wallet, "I noticed you seem to really like these... um, potions, so I brought some before leaving."
He tried to avoid using any words related to magic in his speech. As the saying goes, fit the customs of the place, at his aunt's house, he was a Muggle, in the Wizarding World, he was a wizard, Harry saw it clearly.
"Thanks," Aunt Penny forced a smile.
You know, seeing Harry bring something to Aunt Penny, especially something to make Aunt Penny radiant and obviously several years younger like the Beauty Potion, Uncle Vernon's attitude changed too.
He snorted and sat in the chair, grumbling, "Use your trick... don't let the neighbors find out, or you'll be in trouble with me!"
"Here's a gift for you, Uncle," Harry pulled out a lighter, "I bought it previously at Harrods Department Store."
Harry mentioned Harrods specifically to put Uncle Vernon at ease.
See, this is a Muggle product and not a gimmick from the Wizarding World.
Sure enough, upon hearing Harrods, Uncle Vernon's expression softened further.
It's well known that Harrods is a luxury department store, and Harry buying gifts from there clearly showed his regard.
He accepted the lighter, muttering a barely audible thanks.
Harry smiled at him and pulled a piece of bacon from Dudley's plate.
"You didn't bring me a gift!" Dudley was a bit unhappy.
Uncle Vernon and Aunt Penny were amazed to see Dudley, they were genuinely surprised that someone could take food from dear Dada's plate and still have dear Dada calmly accept it.
"Oh, my dear cousin," Harry said in a greasy, drawn-out tone, "Of course I have brought you a gift, but—please allow your poor cousin to eat a little meal, he hasn't had breakfast yet."
Aunt Penny showed a ghost-like expression.
This nephew, after not being seen for a year, how come he talks so much like that greasy little bat?