At noon, an old rented car was driving on the highway from France to the Belgian border. Inside the car, a family of three were chatting harmoniously and pleasantly. They talked about everything under the sun, but none of them paid any attention to the bespectacled boy sitting in the back seat.
It was as if that boy was a transparent person who didn't exist in this car at all.
Glancing at his aunt and uncle, who were chatting enthusiastically, and Dudley beside him, who occasionally chimed in, Harry pursed his lips and leaned against the window to appreciate the scenery outside.
Ever since Professor Kahn had frightened the Dursleys, their attitude toward him had improved slightly, roughly changing from pure enemies to an ignored invisible person.
But even so, Harry was already quite satisfied.
If it were according to his previous treatment, he should now only have three options: being put in the trunk, being stored at Mrs. Figg's, or simply being locked at home.
However, this time Mrs. Figg seemed to have gone out on business, and after experiencing last year's incident, they probably felt that locking him at home would invite Professor Kahn's retaliation, which was why they brought him along.
But compared to being brought out, he actually preferred being locked at home.
After all, if he were locked at home, he could find a way to release Hedwig and use her to send letters to his friends.
Although it had only been half a month since he'd seen them, he really missed those friends at Hogwarts.
"Aunt Mary used to be our neighbor and had a good relationship with our family. Coming to France this time, we're just paying her a visit." Uncle Vernon seemed to be in a good mood today, explaining their upcoming itinerary to Dudley and Aunt Petunia.
"Will we go to that forest afterward?" Dudley moved to the center of the back seat, squeezing Harry into the corner, and asked excitedly.
"Of course, if you want to." Aunt Petunia said gently. She was always this gentle when dealing with Dudley.
Uncle Vernon beside her chimed in. "That forest is right next to the town we're going to. You could even walk there."
"Great! I heard that forest has ghosts. I've been wanting to see them!" Dudley's expression seemed very excited.
But hearing about ghosts, Aunt Petunia's face didn't look too good. "If there are ghosts, I think..."
"Don't listen to Dudley's nonsense. There are no such things as ghosts. They're all fake."
"No, Dad! I specifically looked up some books. There's a very complex process for exorcising ghosts..."
Listening to these amateurs enthusiastically discussing ghost-related matters, Harry couldn't stand it anymore and spoke up quietly. "Actually, dispersing vengeful spirits is very simple. Even without a wand, I know many..."
"Shut up!"
Uncle Vernon, sitting in the driver's seat, suddenly interrupted Harry loudly. Disregarding traffic rules, he turned his head, his face flushed red like a bull's rear end in mating season.
"Don't! Mention! Your! Freaky! Stuff! In my car!"
"If Mrs. Figg hadn't gone out recently, you wouldn't even dream of us bringing you along! You little freak!"
Having said this, he turned his head back around, breathing heavily, his hands gripping the steering wheel trembling slightly. Dudley and his aunt also tactfully resumed their conversation, as if no one had spoken at all.
The car continued driving, the conversation inside continued, and the invisible Harry continued to be ignored.
However, Uncle Vernon's anger wasn't so easily dispelled.
Even after reaching their destination and parking the car in front of a house, Uncle Vernon's expression was still very ugly. He glared fiercely at Harry and said viciously.
"You stay outside! No, stay in the car! Wait for us to come back!"
Saying this, he slammed the car door shut and walked toward the nearby small building with Dudley and Aunt Petunia.
Fortunately, whether he forgot or not, Uncle Vernon didn't lock the car when he left, so Harry didn't need to worry about being heat-stroked to death.
Thinking this, Harry rested his head against the car window and recalled that thrilling adventure in the fourth-floor corridor.
Just as he was recalling Ron's brilliant wizard chess game, his peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of something quite strange.
He saw a completely black cat with white fur on its chest walking past from a nearby alley. What made Harry find it strange was that this cat was walking on two legs, just like a person.
He didn't know if it was his imagination, but Harry felt that the cat's emerald green eyes contained anger, and its body seemed to be trembling slightly, as if forcibly suppressing the rage in its heart.
Seemingly sensing that someone was watching it, the black cat looked around warily, then quickly ran into a nearby alley, disappearing from Harry's view.
Had it left?
Looking at the place where the cat had disappeared, Harry pondered for a moment and remembered where he had heard of such a creature.
Previously, the school had invited Mr. Newt Scamander to give a public lecture. Although he hadn't attended, he had heard about this creature from Hermione.
It seemed to be called a Cait Sith?
But hadn't Hermione said they were extinct? How could one appear here?
Or was what he had just seen merely an ordinary tuxedo cat that had walked on two legs for some reason, which he happened to witness?
Shaking his head, Harry lay back on the car seat somewhat dejectedly.
If he could write letters, he would definitely tell Professor Kahn about this. He should be very interested in such creatures. But unfortunately, Hedwig was locked in his room by Uncle Vernon and couldn't be brought on this trip.
Moreover, in the half month since returning to the Dursleys', he hadn't received a single letter and didn't know how his friends were doing.
Lying listlessly on the seat, Harry recalled bits and pieces from school and couldn't help but smile.
But even the happiest memories would gradually become dull after repeated reminiscing.
After the Dursleys hadn't returned for half an hour, Harry finally became impatient.
He felt the wand in his pocket. Although magic wasn't allowed outside school, Harry still carried this wand, as only it could give him a sense of security.
After confirming the wand was still there, Harry directly pushed open the car door and stealthily came to the window of that house, pressing his ear against the glass.
A shrill voice immediately entered his ears.
"Vernon! Chatting with you has been so delightful. Why don't you stay for dinner? All of you! We can chat more and let Dudley play with my son more! How about it?"
"That would be wonderful! It's been so long since I've tasted Aunt Mary's cooking!"
Looking up at the sun hanging high in the sky, Harry pursed his lips, stood up, and walked toward the nearby street.
It seemed he didn't need to consider going back anytime soon.