NOVEL WEB Chapter 55: Chapter 55 - The Visit
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"Boy! What are you yelling about out there?"
The purple-faced fat man burst through the front door waving a newspaper, and immediately spotted Orli and Hermione. His face swelled even more, breathing heavily like a winded rhinoceros.
"You dare bring those freaks to our house! Good Lord, make them disappear this instant!"
A thin woman rushed out brandishing a frying pan, accompanied by a miniature version of the fat man.
"Mum! Freaks! There are freaks here!"
"Oh darling, come to Mummy!"
The thin woman spread her arms wide, clutching her chubby son. The whole family stared at Hermione and Orli with horrified, disgusted looks that made it clear they were not welcome.
"Perhaps we came at a bad time," Hermione said, her face flushing as she tugged at Harry's sleeve. She didn't want to make things difficult for him.
"Harry, perhaps you'd like to introduce us to your relatives?" Orli asked, appearing oblivious to the tension as she looked at Harry.
"Er... this is the Dursley family - my Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and cousin Dudley..." Harry replied, somewhat confused but complying.
"Excellent." Orli lifted her chin, adopting a haughty expression as she surveyed the family.
"I've just learned a new spell - all I need is someone's name and an incantation, and I can make their face sprout a full mane of hair. Harry, tell me, which one of them do you dislike most? I wouldn't mind testing it out on these Muggles."
Petunia's frying pan clattered to the ground as Vernon began trembling and backing away. As for Dudley, he had already bolted up the stairs, making the whole house shake with each step.
"Your relatives don't seem very brave. Perhaps I should show them some mercy?" Orli raised an eyebrow at Harry, who caught on immediately.
"Oh yes. They're quite terrified of magic. Would you like to see my room?"
"Of course," Hermione replied, also catching on now.
The three headed upstairs under the Dursleys' terrified stares and closed the door.
"That was brilliant, Orli," Harry said. "Your act was so convincing - you looked just like Malfoy!"
"I was copying him exactly," Orli said proudly, lifting her chin high and slicking her hair back in an exaggerated impression of Draco's signature style.
Hermione was doubled over with laughter, though she still had concerns: "Weren't we a bit harsh?"
"Never mind that - they treat Harry terribly," Orli said, pointing at Harry's ill-fitting dirty clothes.
"True. I used to live in the cupboard under the stairs. They only gave me this bedroom this summer," Harry shrugged.
"They've locked away all my things. Every day they either make me invisible or put me to work. I haven't touched my broomstick once this holiday - Wood will probably kick me off the team when term starts."
"What about your homework?" Hermione asked, looking horrified.
"Haven't written a word," Harry said flatly.
Now Hermione's eyes looked ready to shoot flames.
Orli had no doubt that if Hermione could use magic, she would give the Dursleys a proper lesson.
"Why haven't either of you written to me all summer?" Harry complained. "I can't let Hedwig out of her cage - they won't let her fly."
"But you're the one who hasn't replied!" Hermione protested. "I've sent you several letters. I even checked with the owl post office - they confirmed the letters were delivered."
"That's impossible!" Harry said in disbelief. "I haven't received any letters - not from you, Orli, or Ron and the others."
"Shh!" Orli pressed a finger to her lips, silencing them. She made a show of inspecting Harry's window, wardrobe, and bed before speaking in a serious tone.