After the feast, Charlie packed his luggage, preparing to return to the Orphanage.
He sat in the compartment of the Hogwarts Express, watching the scenery flash by outside the window.
Hermione was buried in a thick Transfiguration textbook, studying intently, taking notes as she read.
Charlie greatly admired such a hardworking little girl—this was the true attitude for academic pursuit!
Considering how hard Hermione was working on her thesis, he decided not to give her summer homework; he would give it to Ernie instead.
The train slowly pulled into King's Cross Station.
Charlie picked up his suitcase and bid farewell to everyone.
"Happy holidays," he waved, walked out of the station, hailed a taxi, and returned to the Orphanage.
Grandma White was already waiting outside; when she saw Charlie, a smile appeared on her face, and she reached out to take Charlie's luggage.
"You must be tired from the journey, quickly go upstairs and rest; dinner will be ready soon."
Charlie also smiled knowingly, but he did not let Grandma White carry his luggage.
"Thank you, Grandma, I can manage it myself."
Charlie was having a wonderful time at the Orphanage.
Every day, he slept until he woke up naturally, Apparated wherever he wanted to play, played all day, and then Apparated back, so Grandma White wouldn't worry too much.
Occasionally, he exchanged letters with his friends, living a life that couldn't be more pleasant.
A certain little girl frantically working on her thesis and homework: "You're awesome, you're great; I write homework, you get holidays."
Ron's family won a big prize, and the whole family went on a trip to Egypt.
His letters were filled with excitement.
According to him, he saw Wizards in Egypt, and their Spells were a bit different from those of Wizards in Britain, but Ron still felt that British Wizards were more powerful.
He also bought a new wand, using the ten Galleons Charlie had given him.
Good heavens, his old wand could finally retire.
Although Ron used his own little stash to buy the wand, the seven hundred Galleons his family won were still almost all spent.
Charlie's mouth twitched when he read this.
No wonder Ron's family couldn't save money; it turned out they were all living paycheck to paycheck. If you're not poor, who is?
Hermione also sent a letter.
"Charlie, I went to France with my parents."
"To be honest, France is very boring. I can't use magic outside of school, I really envy Ron; he can learn local specialty Spells in Egypt."
Ron almost spat blood when he saw this letter.
I'm out having fun, and you want me to learn Spells? Are you a devil?
Only Harry rarely joined the group chat.
He seemed to be restricted from using his Owl, sending very few letters.
Occasionally, a letter would arrive, with a hint of helplessness between the lines.
On July 31st, Harry's birthday.
Charlie sent him a birthday card and included a photo of Harry from a Quidditch match.
However, Charlie didn't receive a reply from Harry, probably because his aunt and uncle wouldn't let him send letters.
A few more days passed, and on August 7th, it was Charlie's birthday.
Early in the morning, Owls began frantically tapping on the window.
Charlie opened the window, and over a dozen Owls rushed in.
Gifts and cards piled up on the table.
Ron sent a box of Egyptian candies, with a card attached: Happy birthday, I bought these in Egypt, they're super delicious.
Hermione sent a pair of sunglasses bought in France; Charlie looked quite good wearing them.
Ernie sent Charlie all of his homework; only half of the summer had passed, and he had already finished it all.
Now that's what you call efficiency!
Justin sent another magazine, but this time it was no ordinary magazine; Justin used developing fluid to make the big sisters on it move.
Charlie stared at it for a couple of seconds, then put it in a box, intending to thoroughly critique it later that night.
Harry also sent a letter, along with a small figurine that looked like Charlie; it seemed Harry had carved it himself.
"Charlie, Happy Birthday. Thank you for the photo you sent me. I secretly let Hedwig out, I hope I wasn't discovered."
"Don't dislike my gift; they won't let me go out, so I could only make it myself."
Charlie smiled after reading the letter.
He picked up his quill and wrote replies to everyone.
After delivering this stack of letters, Storm was quite exhausted; he lay on the windowsill, not wanting to move his wings.
Charlie ruffled the feathers on his head, wondering aloud.
"Why are you getting weaker and weaker?"
Two days later, at night.
Charlie squatted by the windowsill, holding meat pellets and feeding them one by one into Storm's mouth.
These meat pellets were specially made by him with goji berries and beef. He wasn't sure if goji berries could boost a bird's health.
Storm ate happily, his eyes narrowed into slits.
Charlie rubbed his head.
"I must give you a good boost; you must have been exhausted lately."
Storm chirped and flapped his wings against Charlie's hand, expressing gratitude.
Charlie was about to go back to bed when a shrill braking sound suddenly came from outside the window.
He paused for a moment. Who was slamming on the brakes in the middle of the night?
Charlie walked to the window and looked out, instantly freezing.
A purple double-decker bus was parked outside the Orphanage.
Its enormous body glowed faintly under the moonlight, and dim yellow light emanated from its windows.
The bus was ridiculously tall, estimated to be about three stories high.
But the most bizarre thing was that the pedestrians on the street all ignored it, as if they couldn't see the bus at all.
The next second, the bus suddenly turned into a phantom and sped away into the distance.
Charlie narrowed his eyes.
A magical creation, and it came specifically here, looking for him?
Charlie grabbed his wand, pushed open the window, and jumped down.
It was quiet outside the Orphanage, with only the streetlights glowing dimly.
As Charlie approached the entrance, he saw a slender figure standing on the street corner.
The person was dragging a heavy suitcase, their back to him, shoulders slumped.
Charlie took two steps closer.
"Harry?"
The person spun around abruptly, and it was indeed Harry.
His hair was messy, his face covered in dust, and his glasses were askew; he looked like he had just escaped from something.
When Harry saw Charlie, his eyes instantly lit up.
"Charlie!"
Charlie looked him up and down.
"What happened?"
Harry opened his mouth, a hint of embarrassment flashing across his face.
He lowered his head, his voice very soft: "I... I blew up my aunt into a balloon."
Charlie raised an eyebrow; the young man was quite creative.
"My aunt kept badmouthing my parents," Harry looked up, a hint of grievance in his eyes.
"I couldn't hold back and accidentally blew her up into a balloon, and she floated to the ceiling."
"And then?"
"Then I ran away from home," Harry bit his lip.
"I illegally used magic, and the Ministry of Magic might expel me."
He paused, his voice even softer.
"I have nowhere to go now, so I could only come to you."
Charlie sighed.
"Come in."
Harry quickly dragged his suitcase and followed.
As the two reached the door, footsteps suddenly sounded on the stairs.
Grandma White came down in her pajamas, holding an oil lamp.
Elderly people are light sleepers, so she most likely heard Charlie's footsteps.
She saw Charlie and Harry and paused.
"Charlie? Why aren't you asleep so late?"
Charlie pointed to Harry.
"Grandma, this is my classmate, Harry Potter; he's run into some difficulties."
Grandma White looked at Harry, a gentle smile appearing on her face.
"Oh, so it's Charlie's classmate. Come in and sit."
She turned and walked into the kitchen, soon returning with a plate of biscuits and a glass of milk.
"Child, you must be hungry, right? Have something to eat first."
Harry took the milk, his eyes a little red.
"Thank you."
Charlie looked at Grandma White.
"Grandma, are there any empty rooms? Let Harry stay here for a while."
Grandma White didn't ask further, just nodded.
"There's an empty room on the second floor; I'll go make the bed for you."
She turned and went upstairs, her footsteps gradually fading away.
Harry watched Grandma White's retreating figure, his voice choked.
"Charlie, thank you."
Charlie waved his hand.
"Don't mention it, we're buddies."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Violent knocking suddenly sounded at the door.
Charlie frowned.
Why is it so lively tonight?
He walked over and pulled open the door.
Standing outside the door was a short, plump woman in a pink dress.
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