Privet Drive has always been quiet, tidy, and elegant, but recently, an earth-shattering roar would occasionally break out from a certain house.
"I don't—I don't—I want cake! I want chocolate! I want steak—"
Dudley Dursley glared resentfully at the carrots and two lettuce leaves on his plate, shouting loudly.
Following closely, came Aunt Petunia's screams and sobbing, and then Vernon Dursley's irritable yelling.
Harry shrank his neck, grabbed the two finger-length carrots from his plate, and hurriedly said, "I'll check if there's any mail in the mailbox."
Whether any one of those three heard his excuse to go out is unknown; anyway, Harry wisely avoided the impending conflict, skillfully sprinted out of the Dursley family's door, leaving all the terrifying sounds behind.
He casually flicked through the mailbox, placed the morning newspaper on the hall's rack, and then ran all the way to the Black family.
Needless to say, the table was already filled with fragrant, hot breakfasts, thick bacon sandwiched in toast, eggs and sausages on a plate, with a bowl of boiled black beans beside it.
Vid, who was helping arrange the tableware, saw Harry coming in and curiously asked, "What did they give you for breakfast today?"
"Look!" Harry showed the slim carrots in his hands, then tossed one into his mouth, crunching half of it with one bite.
"Just that?" Sirius asked angrily.
Harry shrugged and said, "Dudley also only got two carrots, just thicker than mine—Aunt Petunia has never been so fair!"
"That whale in his family really needs to lose weight, otherwise he'll get too fat and eventually die. But you are slim as a cucumber, what's the point of dieting? This is abuse!" Sirius was still very angry.
Lupin was more straightforward. He added two pieces of toast to Harry's plate and said, "Eat more, there's plenty."
Harry contentedly filled his belly and crunched through another carrot.
Lupin smiled lightly at Harry's carefree demeanor, hiding a tinge of worry in his eyes, exchanged a glance with Sirius beside him.
Sirius did not hide the information he knew from Lupin; learning that Voldemort had returned and targeted Harry once again, both of them felt heavy-hearted.
Yet they did not reveal their feelings and continued joking as usual.
"Vid, do you have any plans for today?" Harry said, "Aunt Petunia forgot to give me chores this morning, so I have the whole day."
"Shopping." Vid said, "In a couple of days, I have to visit Mr. Nicolas Flamel, and I want to buy a suitable gift."
"Oh, shopping…"
Harry showed a toothache-like expression, and Lupin's eyes flickered darkly for a moment.
Last time Vid was kidnapped during a shopping trip, which left both of them with psychological shadows regarding this matter.
"What do you plan to buy?" Sirius reminded, "Don't buy anything too costly, it might cause awkwardness."
"I haven't decided yet." Vid said worriedly, "What magic items hasn't Mr. Flamel seen? Muggle gifts are exquisite, but they lack sincerity. I thought of taking a stroll down Diagon Alley to see if anything suitable catches my eye."
Ever since the kidnapping incident, the Greys, to avoid themselves becoming a threat to Vid, have stopped casually roaming places like Diagon Alley.
The reason he came here today—to buy gifts—is better with an elder's advice.
Harry asked, "Vid, why don't you make something yourself? Last Christmas gift you made for me was amazing."
The little flying broomstick still buzzes around the room; Ron mentioned such toy-like magic items remaining effective for so long are quite rare.
"Well…"
Vid stroked his chin, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Nicolas Flamel is considered an academic leader in the Alchemy World; Vid giving his creation as a gift is like a primary—at most middle—school student giving homework as a gift to the renowned scholar.
Examining closely from any angle, it would blatantly read "inadequate skills."
Vid hesitantly shared his thoughts, causing the other three to laugh.
Harry turned to Lupin and said, "Although he didn't mention me, I somehow feel like I've been roasted…"
"Vid… Vid…" Lupin smiled helplessly, "Excessive humility becomes arrogance; you're underestimating your own level."
Sirius, on the other hand, appeared more serious: "I remember there are some rare books on alchemy in my family's basement, things that even Nicolas Flamel might not have seen. You could use them for reference."
So, after a meal, everyone moved to Grimmauld Place.
The Black ancestral home was no longer dilapidated; now it appeared old yet tidy. Kreacher, wrapped in a new tea towel, stood at the door, bowing to welcome the guests.
Despite his disdain for werewolves, half-bloods, and Muggles, the House-Elf had learned to double-standard in treating Vid and others after so many experiences.
He eagerly brewed hot tea for everyone, adding an extra sugar cube for the two minors. As Kreacher walked out with the tray, he suddenly realized Sirius was leading everyone toward the basement, his face subtly contorting.
"Troublemaker… master truly is a troublemaker… is he planning to send away the Black family's centuries-old collection again? No! Kreacher must protect Black's property! Kreacher… Kreacher must stop this…"
The House-Elf circled a few times in place, ultimately unable to resist the mission cultivated from childhood, raised the tray, and ran toward the basement.
The Black family, as an ancient Wizard Clan, naturally hid some Chambers of Secret in their ancestral home.
For instance, the basement at the end of the hall, seemingly appearing as only a kitchen, with Kreacher's nest hidden in the cupboard. But just following a specific sequence to knock the bricks beside the kitchen, the entrance to a concealed library would emerge.
When Kreacher rushed down with the tray, he saw Vid and the others did not intend to empty the library.
Harry was curiously exploring various ancient books in the corridor, but didn't want to pick any of them.
Remus Lupin was absorbed in a Magic Notes related to werewolves.
As for Vid, after finding the book he wanted, he casually performed a Gemino Curse.
Kreacher quickly halted his steps and showed a servile smile, distributing the tea to everyone.
Upon arriving at the last cup, he noticed his master unusually quiet today. Kreacher hurried over to see Sirius clutching a bizarre Human Skin Magic Book, his expression terrifying.
That look even reminded Kreacher of the old master's temper tantrums when still alive.
The House-Elf felt somewhat fearful and hesitantly whispered, "Master… would you like some tea?"
Sirius glanced at him, shoved the book back, and commanded, "Kreacher, don't touch this book, don't even look at the books above it."
Kreacher wasn't inclined to read them anyway, and replied softly, "Yes, Master… Regulus also said the same…"
"Regulus?" Sirius faltered, then realized: "Of course, he knew… he must have read it…"
Sirius's handsome face showed complex emotions, mixing remorse and sorrow.
As he stepped away from the shelves, he casually recalled the expression Regulus had then—
"Sirius, what are you doing here?"
Sirius closed his eyes briefly, waved away the illusion in his mind, walked across the shelves, and saw his godson happily blowing on a teacup.
A word from the book prominently emerged in his mind—
[Soul Artifact].