Hogwarts: Harry Returns from Water Margin

Chapter 5 The Awkward Person Wrapped in a Big Headscarf

The bartender pushed several tables together, and Harry sat in the first seat, Hagrid in the second, and Tom in the third.

After the heroes settled down, the remaining wizards lined up and raised their glasses to chat with Harry.

A pale-skinned man wearing a large turban trembled incessantly upon seeing Harry, exclaiming, "Ha, ha, Harry... Potter! It's so, so good to see you!"

Hagrid was already quite drunk and didn't care that Harry was drinking. He simply introduced Harry, "This is Professor Quirrell, who teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts."

Harry clinked glasses with him, sniffed, and frowned. "Good professor, why do you smell so much garlic?"

After he finished speaking, all the wizards burst into laughter, making Quirrell blush with embarrassment. Quirrell said that Quirrell was not aware of the dangers of the Black Forest, and that Quirrell was not aware of the dangers of vampires or insect bites.

The wizards laughed again, and the bar was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Harry laughed and said, "Professor, please don't be offended. We're just a bunch of roughnecks." He then put his arm around Harry's shoulder.

Unexpectedly, Quirrell was cunning. He twisted his neck to avoid the hand and stammered, "I, I'm sorry, Mr. Potter. I, I, I'm just, I'm just not used to... people touching me."

This sounds reasonable at first glance, but it's strange upon closer examination.

The wizards in the bar all shook hands with him, but he only offered them drinks and didn't make any physical contact.

The sun is scorching hot today, and after several rounds of drinks and five courses of food, who wouldn't take off their clothes and unbutton them to cool off? Yet this fellow, with his large headscarf wrapped around his head, doesn't even unfold it. Can't you see that his armpits and chest are already soaked with sweat!

Harry sobered up a bit and thought to himself: This guy seems like an awkward person. Could he be after me? Let me test him.

Seeing that Quirrell was still rambling on, Harry took the opportunity to remove his headscarf and said, "Professor, it's so hot, why don't you cool off with us?"

No sooner said than done. Harry leaned to the side, his hand flashing like a blur. Quirrell, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, ducked and dodged.

What an embarrassing situation!

The alcohol fumes rose in Harry's head, turning into murderous intent. His tiger eyes widened, and the electric scar on his forehead throbbed slightly.

Just as Harry was about to pull the watermelon knife that his Uncle Vernon had taken from his waist, Quirrell suddenly grabbed Harry's hands.

"Mr. Popo Poppot! I, I, it's an honor to meet you! But, but I have to go, to report to Hogwarts! So, so! Goodbye!"

Quirrell grasped the hero's hands, feeling immensely honored, but then saw him grimacing and sweating profusely. It was as if Harry were the reincarnation of the Thunder God, his hair electrified, or as if he were the reincarnation of Zhurong, his skin like lava.

He finished speaking, then withdrew his hand and hurriedly left.

He staggered, not like a drunkard, but rather as if he had been tortured. Faintly, white smoke could be seen rising from the air.

Harry wanted to chase after him to find out what was going on, but he was stopped by the wizard who came to drink with him, so he had to give up his idea.

Since he's a professor at Hogwarts, there's no rush. Once we get to the school, I'll observe him more closely. If he's truly an awkward person, then it won't be too late to finish him off.

Thinking of this, he raised his cup and drank heartily again.

After finishing their drinks, it was already dark.

Everyone dispersed, and Harry and Hagrid also headed home, parting ways.

"Ha, Harry, here's your ticket." Hagrid hiccuped as he handed over an envelope. "Don't forget the place, station nine and three-quarters."

Harry cupped his hands in farewell and said, "Brother, please be careful on the road. You've had quite a bit to drink; don't crash into the plane."

Hagrid laughed heartily. "Then the plane will have to be careful."

After saying that, he boarded the flying motorcycle and headed straight for Hogwarts.

After seeing Hagrid off, Harry took his luggage to the station and returned to Privet Drive.

When I knocked on the door, my aunt and uncle didn't open it; instead, they turned off all the lights.

Enraged, Harry drunkenly cursed, "You despicable scoundrels! I came with good intentions, and you treat me like this!"

He grabbed a brick and smashed it against the window. With a loud crack, the glass shattered into pieces, and Aunt Penny started yelling again.

"Aaaaaaah!!!"

Harry, annoyed by the noise, took off his coat, wrapped it around his fist, and punched the hole bigger before crawling inside.

He fumbled for the wall switch and turned on the light. Dudley, his mouth stuffed full of fat and his face covered in grease, stood there in a daze. Penny was squatting in the corner howling, pounding her feet and wailing. Vernon, though holding a double-barreled shotgun, was trembling like a leaf.

Harry ignored the others, and seeing some soup on the table, he went over and ladled out a bowl to drink and sober up.

Seeing that he was being ignored, Vernon's fear turned into resentment and anger. "Kid! You're trespassing! You think I won't shoot you?!"

He yelled, but Harry didn't respond. Then, smelling the alcohol on him, Harry exclaimed, "Damn it! You've been drinking?!"

Harry finished the bowl of savory meat juice, then reached into his pocket, startling Vernon into a fit of rage.

"Don't move! Kid! What do you think you're doing?! I... I really will kill you!"

Aunt Penny was so frightened that she closed her eyes, pursed her lips, and covered her ears, until Jehovah Mary came to protect her.

After waiting for a while, instead of the Holy Father and Holy Mother coming to the rescue, all I could hear was the clatter of banknotes.

The woman, being greedy, could not resist the temptation. She opened her eyes and stared at Harry, completely stunned.

He had piled up a table full of banknotes, all brand new and of large denominations. A closer sniff revealed the still-warm scent of ink.

Harry asked, "Does this money repay my living expenses over the years?"

Aunt Petunia wanted to teach him more, but then Harry pulled out a knife, stuck it on the table, and said, "You all should know, I live in the cupboard!"

The drunkard roared, his words carrying an air of authority; though the watermelon knife was short, it could still cut flesh and decapitate. Penny, blinded by the glint of the blade, looked away, her body trembling, and dared not utter another word.

Vernon stared at Harry, then couldn't help glancing at the money. "Where did you get so much money?"

Harry said, "It's perfectly aboveboard."

He pushed all the banknotes on the table aside, then pulled out new ones from his pocket, leaving the couple speechless.

"I still have a month before school starts, so I hope my aunt and uncle can help me pack my luggage and tidy up my room." After saying that, he went upstairs to the room where Dali kept his toys.

After he left, the family of three looked at each other, but none of them dared to move.

After a long while, Dali swallowed the meat whole and exclaimed, "Dad! Mom! That's the room where I keep my toys!"

These words were like a floodgate opening, urging the couple to get moving.

One went to pick up the money, and the other went outside to drag his luggage, but no one paid any attention to Dali, and he felt a chill in his heart.

Daddy...Mom...don't want me anymore?

Enough of this rambling.

Meanwhile, Scarface tore open the money bag, and the Dursleys both ducked inside. A month passed without incident.

On the first day of school, Harry changed his clothes and tidied his appearance. He wanted to tie his hair up in a bun like in the Song Dynasty, but his hair was still too short, so he simply gathered all the stray strands in front of his forehead back.

At first glance, he was indeed a handsome and dashing young man.

Harry hailed a taxi with his luggage and rushed to King's Cross Station, but then he ran into another problem.

Because the station only has platforms nine and ten, where are platforms nine and three-quarters?

Harry was inwardly groaning. He had been so engrossed in drinking with Hagrid that day that he had forgotten to ask him about this place. How was he supposed to get to Hogwarts now?

Just as he was feeling helpless, a woman behind him called out, "Are you Harry Potter?"

A bewildered orphan, caught in the clamor of the world, finds himself helpless and anxious. Suddenly, a thunderous cry rings out, and turning around abruptly, he sees a crimson glow illuminating the sky. But who is this woman? We'll find out in the next chapter.