Chapter 125: Harry – Hagrid Must Be a Very Powerful Wizard
The weather in Britain is always fickle. It had been bright and sunny in the morning, but by evening, the skies opened up in a downpour.
Far from London, out on the open sea, a massive reef jutted up from the waves, topped by a small, rickety shack that looked ready to collapse under the weight of the storm. Inside, the biting wind whistled through cracks in the wooden walls, sending shivers down the spines of the four people huddled together in the cramped, dim room. Despite the freezing cold, tension thickened the air.
"You're looking at a pack of stupid lies!" Vernon Dursley roared, his face purple with rage. "Now, hand over that blasted letter!"
Opposite him stood a skinny boy with round glasses and a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. In his hands, he clutched an opened envelope bearing the Hogwarts crest.
Harry Potter's expression was one of shock and bewilderment. "Is this what you've been hiding from me?" he asked, frowning as he reread the letter. "A... letter of admission to a school of magic?"
"Shut up!" Uncle Vernon shrieked, his voice strained and unnatural. His face turned a darker shade of purple as he glared at Harry. "There is no such thing as magic in this world!" He took a step forward, holding out a meaty hand. "Give me that bloody letter, and we'll go home. Now!"
"No!" Harry shook his head firmly, clutching the letter to his chest. "It's mine!"
Uncle Vernon's fury boiled over. No matter how far he dragged them, that wretched owl had managed to find them. Worse, it was unlike any owl he'd ever seen. Enormous, scar-faced, and with wings that spread wide like some monstrous creature, it had landed directly on their boat. Vernon had barely managed to keep from screaming. He'd tried to shoo it away, even reaching for the rifle he'd bought for protection—but before he could aim, the owl seized the gun in its sharp talons and tossed it into the sea. It had then settled on the boat, staring them down with its scarred face, talons digging deep, menacing scratches into the wood.
Monster!
That owl was as much a freak as these unnatural people Vernon despised. His mind reeled. But thankfully, it had flown off after Harry took the letter. If he could just destroy it... if he could just rip it up, it wouldn't be too late.
"Give it to me!" Vernon roared, lunging at Harry, desperate to snatch the letter from him.