Harry, too, was shocked and terrified by the prospect. He shielded Aunt Petunia with his chest and said,
- Ma'am, please don't send me to the orphanage. My aunt and uncle aren't that bad, actually. I go to school, I eat, I get dressed. I'm fine. Really! Please, don't.
Only one journalist remained unattended. She stood quietly to the side, recording everything that was happening on a tape recorder. She also scribbled quickly in a notebook. Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm; the word "SENSATIONAL" could be read in them!
"Ahem," Richard said, drawing attention to himself. "Ladies and gentlemen, please don't get carried away. I realize the situation looks ugly, but perhaps it's not so bad after all. Mr. Dursley, are you working?"
"Yes..." Vernon answered hesitantly. A glimmer of hope rose in the man's heart. He added more confidently, "I have a wonderful job. I'm the CEO of Grunnings, a drill company. I earn a good living and provide for my family. Please, Lord, believe me... I would never harm that boy!"
"Then why are your children dressed differently?" Madam Taylor asked sarcastically. "And I have a second question: how do you spend the money the state allocates for Harry Potter's orphan? I'll need a detailed report."
"Uh..." Mr. Dursley was perplexed. "What money? We didn't receive anything! I spent my own money on Harry."
"What are you pulling my leg for?!" Madam Taylor said indignantly. "The orphan should be paid an allowance of two hundred pounds a month, and you, as his guardians, are required to provide the guardianship authorities with a report on how the funds were spent, along with receipts."
"No one from the guardianship authorities has come to us before you," Mr. Dursley answered with even greater bewilderment.
"Madam Taylor," Richard interjected again. "I suspect there's been some bureaucratic error here. An investigation into this incident is needed. I hereby declare that I am providing Harry Potter with a stipend of two hundred pounds per month through a charitable foundation. The expenditure of these funds will be monitored by representatives of the charitable foundation. Mr. and Mrs. Dursley will be required to submit monthly reports on how the funds are spent. Mr. Potter is required to allocate at least five pounds a week from this money for pocket money. And God forbid the boy doesn't receive the money, or your son Dudley and his friends steal it from him. Criminal liability lies with you, as his guardians."
"Lord Rich," Madame Taylor looked at the boy questioningly and with bewilderment. "Are you suggesting that we leave the child in this terrible family?"
Harry, realizing that this strange boy-lord was in charge here, looked at him with tearful eyes and quietly whispered with his lips:
- Please!
"Madame Taylor," Richard replied, "let's give this family a chance."
Petunia and Vernon simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief. But realizing this wasn't the end, they held their breath again and waited impatiently for the guardian's response. They had never been so scared in their lives.
"Hmm... Well, if the Lord asks..." Madam Taylor thought.
"Please, ma'am," said Richard. "Let's not separate the family. Especially since Harry himself says he's not being treated so badly. Besides, I'm not suggesting we just let things slide. Naturally, if there's more than one warning sign, this family needs to be closely monitored. As is customary in such situations, a representative of the guardianship authorities will be required to visit them weekly. I understand that more scrutiny is needed on Mr. and Mrs. Dursley and their child than on Mr. Potter. I, for my part, will be bringing in a detective to conduct periodic, covert checks on the guardianship duties."
"I think we can turn a blind eye to what's happening for the first time," Madam Taylor said thoughtfully. "But only for the first time!" she added sternly, looking menacingly first at Mr. Dursley, then at Mrs. Dursley.
Vernon and Petunia breathed a sigh of relief.
Harry Potter looked at Richard with gratitude and whispered quietly:
- Thank you! Thank you very much!
Madame Taylor said:
- Mrs. Dursley, I need all the documents on Mr. Harry Potter.
"Ma'am, they're kept in our room," Petunia replied in a trembling voice. "Please, come with me."
Mr. Conor went with the owner of the house and a representative of the guardianship authorities.
At the same time, the constable pulled Mr. Dursley aside and began talking to him about something. Vernon listened attentively to the policeman.
Richie's ears perked up and he caught the topic of conversation.
"Mr. Dursley, you'll now have child welfare authorities and a charity come to your home to inspect your activities. If you don't want to run into legal trouble, you'll need to provide these people with full information."
"Yes, yes, Constable," Vernon nodded his head on his thick neck.