When the transmigrator was a child in his past life, there were numerous Harry Potter films: the original book, several remakes, and prequels. Each was distinct from the other. For example, the magic in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was much more powerful and spectacular than in the original film. In the remakes, the level of special effects was off the charts, and many scenes were changed to accommodate legislation and tolerance. For example, the hero's girlfriend became black, the antagonist teacher became gay, and his best friend became a vegan.
The transmigrator hadn't seen those films, though he'd heard a little about them. He wasn't interested in admiring flat images. He hadn't read the Harry Potter books either. However, when the holofilm remake came out, he saw it... partially. But according to rumors on the holonet, everything was different. Firstly, the plot had been changed to suit modern times. Wizards coexisted alongside the human world, using anti-gravity carts and flyers, communicators, and other benefits of civilization. Secondly, the special effects were on a completely different level. And to make the world of magic more appealing to viewers, the wizards in the film were incredibly powerful. Child wizards could summon a hurricane or tsunami with a wand, while Muggle-born wizards actively used communicators and the holonet, and the most powerful wizards were even capable of causing a planetary apocalypse. This was necessary to explain how wizards can hide from highly advanced technology. Thirdly, the screenwriters retained the setting of the old castle and the protagonist's adventures. This created the impression, for someone raised in modern society, that the film's main villain was the school Headmaster, who allowed dangerous situations for the students to occur within his institution. Throughout the film, one could feel as if the wizarding school Headmaster was deliberately creating situations that brought the protagonist to the brink of death, as if the old man had set out to kill Harry Potter with someone else's hands, disregarding the casualties among the students.
Overall, the transmigrator didn't particularly like the holo-series, so he only watched the first episode and skipped the next couple. Yes, it was a series. Each season is spread out over ten episodes, covering a single year of training for students at a magic school. There are seven seasons in total.
The first episode I watched showed a scene with the home of the villainous guardians, who in the future would have long been jailed for abusing their adopted child. But Harry Potter was almost identical to the actor portrayed him in the series. The only exceptions were that the movie Harry was older and heavier, and his scar was larger and more beautiful.
And now Richard was tormented by the question: which canon should he follow? What's true and what's not? Are the wizards powerful or just so-so? Although all these questions are pointless, since the transmigrator is unfamiliar with any of the canon of the Harry Potter world. He knows, superficially, that an orphan boy lived with his mother's sister. There was some evil wizard who tried to conquer the human Empire or destroy the solar system. And in the end, Harry had to destroy the villain and save the world. There was also, apparently, a villainous headmaster, a sort of power broker who pitted the protagonist against the antagonist.
***
After Richard's cry, there was silence in the living room of the house on Privet Drive for a couple of seconds.
John asked his ward:
- Sir, excuse me, what?
"Nothing," Richard pretended as if nothing had happened. "I just thought Mr. Potter would be a good actor in the future, when they invent holographic cinema. Madam Taylor, are you seeing the same thing I am? I think we need to make sure the neighbors' complaints weren't unfounded..."
Petunia gasped, turned suddenly pale, and raised her hands to her mouth.
"What, complaints from the neighbors?!" she said quietly.
Vernon flushed, his cheeks flushed. He twitched his mustache angrily, turned his gaze to Madam Taylor, and asked her sharply:
- And who are you?
The old woman didn't lose her composure. She grimaced, as if offended by the man's words, and replied:
"I'm Jessica Taylor from the Child Welfare Service. Mr. Conor, the charity representative," she nodded to indicate who she was talking about, "and Lord Rich and I have come to check on you and your care of the orphan you've taken in. Your neighbors have reported that you're not caring for the child well. And now I can see perfectly well that this is indeed the case. Your son is much better dressed than Mr. Potter. Furthermore, he's completely ill-mannered. I believe you're spoiling him too much, while not paying enough attention to Mr. Potter."
Mr. Dursley turned suddenly pale, his skin, which had just been scarlet, now paler than chalk paper. He swayed and clutched his heart.
"It's all your fault, you brat!" he hissed angrily at Harry.
A policeman entered the conversation. He addressed Mr. Dursley:
"Sir, I must warn you that everything you say will be used against you in court. Mrs. Taylor, please get to work."
"Yes, yes," the old woman nodded. "Mr. Dursley, show me where the child lives."
Vernon's eyes darted nervously from side to side. He glanced toward the cupboard under the stairs, swallowed hard, and glanced at the stairs leading to the second floor.
"Uh-uh..." he drawled. "Let's go to the second floor!"
Vernon thought he'd come up with a brilliant idea. He was going to show off his son's room, passing it off as Harry Potter's. But he hadn't taken into account the terrible way he'd raised his son.
Petunia's hand, which she had been holding over the child's mouth, loosened and fell. Dudley broke free from Mrs. Dursley's grip and cried out indignantly:
"Dad, but that's my bedroom and the toy room. And then there's the guest room where Aunt Marge stays, and your bedroom. The crazy guy lives in the closet!"
The eyes of all the uninvited guests present widened. The representatives of the guardianship authorities, the police, and the foundation hadn't expected to hear such a revelation. And Richie was amazed, too. It's one thing to see someone living in a closet with two spare rooms in a movie. It's quite another to discover something similar happening in real life.
"Oh-oh-oh!" Richard drawled. "It's much worse here than the neighbors described. Mr. Policeman, would you like to take a look in the closet?"
- Certainly.