Considering that the Dursley family wasn't too far away, Harry and Hagrid chose the nine-Sickle package, without opting for a cup of hot cocoa or a towel toothbrush.
The speed of the Knight Bus was incredibly fast, much faster than any Muggle means of transportation, and all obstacles in its path would move aside, making it both very safe and very magical.
In less than twenty minutes, Harry arrived at the doorstep of the Dursley family.
"I won't accompany you inside." Hagrid said, "After all, I have to report back to Dumbledore."
"Okay, Hagrid." Harry said, placing a hand on Hedwig's cage, "Safe travels, see you at Hogwarts."
"See you at Hogwarts." Hagrid smiled and waved at Harry.
In the blink of an eye, the Knight Bus disappeared from Harry's view.
It was still bright outside, as London's latitude was quite high, and in July, it wouldn't get dark until nearly seven-thirty.
The Dursley family hadn't gone to bed either. After all, such a big thing had happened during the day, and Penny and Vernon had been discussing what to do since Harry left, even ignoring Dudley, who was walking around in his Smelting school uniform trying to gain their attention.
Feeling bored, Dudley sat by the door and watched Harry suddenly appear, making his chubby face turn mischievous at once.
Whenever he was in a bad mood before, he would vent his anger on Harry and bully him mercilessly.
Now that the person he vented his anger on was back, Dudley felt it necessary to give him a proper greeting.
He seemed to have completely forgotten what had happened today.
"Hi, Dudley." Harry, seeing Dudley approaching with ill intentions, didn't mind and said to him, "Please help me move this luggage into the house."
"Oh, really?" Dudley said, rubbing his hands together, "What if I say no?"
"You will." Harry said confidently, pointing at Dudley's backside, "If you want that pig tail to disappear—by the way, didn't someone once say you look like a pig wearing a wig?"
After saying this, Harry remembered that he had given Dudley that nickname before he went away during the Victorian Era.
Because he... really did look like one.
Dudley reached back and felt his backside, suddenly realizing, at some unknown time, a pig tail had grown there.
"Harry Potter!" Dudley's face flushed purple, resembling that of his father Vernon's.
Feeling humiliated, he spread his arms and charged at Harry.
Harry swiftly pulled out his magic wand and cast a small evil curse on him.
"What... what did you do to me?" Dudley cried out in terror, his body involuntarily starting to dance.
He wanted to stop, but he couldn't.
"It's a Tarantella, a little spell." Harry said, enjoying Dudley's dance moves and resting an arm on Hedwig's cage, "Hedwig, if you've never seen a pig dance, now's your chance."
"Coo, woo~" Hedwig hooted in response.
"Make me stop!" Dudley cried out in panic, "Dad, Mom! Help me! Save me!"
His cries for help proved effective as the Dursleys, originally discussing countermeasures, ran out of the house in a panic upon hearing their precious son's call for help.
"My dear Dudders!" Aunt Penny exclaimed, rushing forward to hug Dudley.
However, her slender frame couldn't hold Dudley, who continued to dance on his own.
Uncle Vernon rushed in front of Harry, his face flushed purple, glaring at Harry angrily.
"What did you do to my son?!"
"Just helping him lose some weight." Harry shrugged indifferently.
Uncle Vernon's little eyes narrowed, and then he pointed at Harry, on the verge of cursing him.
As Harry contemplated whether to cast a spell on him too, he noticed Uncle Vernon suddenly looking around before showing a look of relief.
Could he be checking if Hagrid was around? Harry wondered.
However, he was wrong as Uncle Vernon suddenly said, "Stop your nonsense immediately! Come back with me!"
"What about my luggage?" Harry pointed at the large bundles beside him.
"I'll carry them inside for you!" Uncle Vernon said fiercely.
"Thank you, Uncle Vernon." Harry offered Vernon a gentlemanly bow, then waved a finger at Dudley, who ceased moving, and the pig tail vanished as well.
Uncle Vernon's face looked as though he'd swallowed a pound of flies. He shot Harry a venomous glance, picked up the largest and heaviest piece of Harry's luggage, and hurried inside like he was avoiding the plague.
Seeing Dudley about to head inside too, Harry said, "Dudley, please help me bring this package inside."
The package was small, but Harry delighted in ordering Dudley around.
Dudley sniffled and reluctantly walked over to take the package from Harry's hands.
Entering the house, Harry instinctively headed to the cupboard under the stairs, but Uncle Vernon suddenly said, "Your room's upstairs—I mean, your aunt and I have realized you're too big to stay in the cupboard, so now that other bedroom besides Dudley's is yours."
"Why?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Don't ask why!" Uncle Vernon shouted angrily.
Harry remembered that bedroom; he had always wanted to live there. It was supposed to be Dudley's room but was actually an unused space filled with Dudley's unwanted things.
Upon hearing this decision, Dudley looked as if he'd been struck by lightning.
He started to wail loudly, "No, that's my room! I don't want him moving in! Dad! Mom! Make him move out! He can't be in my room!"
"Do you want to keep dancing like that, Duddikins?" Aunt Penny said in a low, stern tone.
This was the first time Harry had heard Aunt Penny speak to Dudley in such a strict voice.
"Listen, boy," Uncle Vernon said, grabbing Harry by the collar with a menacing tone, "I don't care what tricks you've learned, nor do I expect gratitude for what your aunt and I have done for you all these years. I just hope that when you're playing your tricks, you won't let the neighbors find out we've got a freak in the family, understand?"
Harry understood; Uncle Vernon was afraid of others finding out.
A freak in the family—
"A thousand pounds." Harry didn't mind being grabbed by the collar since minors weren't allowed to use magic outside school, so he wouldn't lose out.
Uncle Vernon took a deep breath.
"Five hundred!"
"Deal." Harry extended his hand.
Uncle Vernon released Harry's collar, gave Harry a long look, and shook his hand, sealing the deal.
"I hope you'll keep your promise." he said.
Seeing this, Dudley imitated, "No, if I have to move out of my room, I want a thousand pounds too!"
Uncle Vernon suddenly felt exhausted and said to Dudley, "Five hundred pounds."
Dudley looked at Harry.
"Ask for half," Harry suggested.
Dudley nodded and said to Vernon, "Two hundred and fifty."
"Deal!" Uncle Vernon was afraid to delay agreeing.
Harry sighed, rubbing his forehead.