The Growing Tension

"Penny, even if there are wizards, they can't openly defy London's laws. Trust me, if they come on strong, my grandfather left me a shotgun, and the taste of gunpowder will make those troublesome folks think twice. They're just a bunch of clowns," Vernon reassured his wife, his voice carrying a hint of determination.

Penny's voice was tinged with emotion as she responded, "Thank you so much. I don't even know what to do. The wizarding world must be full of 'danger.' I don't want Harry to go to such a place."

Vernon looked at his wife's saddened expression and leaned in closer to her ear, speaking softly, "Penny, listen to me. I've been dealing with some people recently, and they seem to have an 'encyclopedia of wizard taboos.' I've decided to purchase some of those books. I believe it will help us navigate through this situation."

.....

In June 1991, in Surrey, at 4 Privet Road, the two-story suburban home of the Dursleys, Dudley was seated at his desk, engrossed in writing. Since the discovery of Harry's acceptance letter in the mailbox, Dudley had become acutely aware of the pressing nature of the situation.

Vernon and Penny, continued to treat him as they always had. However, whenever Dudley passed by Vernon's study, he couldn't help but catch a glimpse of a growing collection of books related to magic.

Titles such as "Expelling Magicians," "What Wizards Fear the Most," and "Taboos in the Occult" adorned Vernon's desk.

Dudley distinctly remembered that there had been only one or two magic-related books in Vernon's study since February. However, within a week, the situation had drastically changed.

One day, during a family meal, Dudley nonchalantly noticed an extra "Letter" on the table. The expressions on Vernon and Penny's faces were a curious mix of wonder and concern. Dudley's feigned indifference seemed to put their anxieties to rest.

As time passed, Dudley began to see a growing number of magical books in Vernon's study. Just two weeks later, after a typical dinner with the Dursleys, a strange noise emanated from the front door, followed by another "Letter" falling to the floor.

This time, Vernon was visibly enraged. He flung open his desk drawer, revealing dozens of similar letters that had suddenly appeared. Desperation in his eyes, he took the letters to the fireplace, muttering words of exasperation and prayer as he tried to burn them. But his efforts proved futile.

Only a couple of days ago, Penny had gone about her morning routine, preparing breakfast. She went to the local store to buy eggs, cracked one open, and out popped yet another "Letter."

From that moment on, letters from Hogwarts began to appear sporadically throughout the house, adding a sense of unease and mystery to the Dursley's already tumultuous lives.

Vernon and Penny had given up trying to explain to Dudley that they would ignore the issue as long as the child didn't ask. Dudley was well aware of it too. The frequent arrival of Hogwarts letters had been a surprise to Dudley. This magical phenomenon was the third time he had witnessed magic in action.

The first time was with Harry.

The second was when he saw the "chinchilla" he had been breeding exhibit magical properties.

And now, the countless Hogwarts letters that had inundated their home.

Harry was also aware of these letters, but due to Vernon's firm control over his personal freedom, he had been unable to get his hands on the Hogwarts letters. Instead, he watched helplessly as Vernon systematically threw each one into the fire, reducing them to ashes.

The atmosphere at home had become increasingly tense.

Dudley knew that there was very little time left for him before the official start of September.

He had successfully extracted the [Magic I Virus] after several stages of research and observation of Harry's cells. Now, Dudley was in the process of cultivating it and could soon use it.

Then there was the [Magic II Virus]. In theory, with the cultivation experience gained from "Totoro," the bacteriophage that could suppress the [Magic I Virus] could be tested on his cells as well. However, applying it directly to his own body posed certain risks. After all, the body of an animal is structurally different from a human's, which could lead to unforeseen complications.

In his experiments, when the [Magic II Virus] cleared the [Magic I Virus], there was an almost 30% chance of cell crystallization. If applied to a human body, it could result in cell crystallization and necrosis.

As Dudley pondered the potential risks, a loud exclamation from Vernon echoed from the room downstairs.

"HARRY..... What in the world are you doing? Hurry up and come here!"

.....

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