"Is everything ready?" Mrs. Granger asked, looking between Kevin and Hermione.
"Be careful while you're out, Kevin. And keep an eye on Hermione for me, all right?" she added.
"Do you have enough money?" Mr. Granger chimed in.
They had explained their plans to the Grangers in advance: this time, Kevin and Hermione would spend a week at the Weasleys' before going straight to Hogwarts for the new term. They wouldn't be returning home in between, so this farewell felt more permanent.
"Don't worry, Mum. I've packed everything, and I have enough money," Hermione assured her.
"Auntie, I'll take good care of Hermione," Kevin promised.
Ron soon arrived, and after final hugs and goodbyes, they climbed into a taxi with him and set off toward Privet Drive—Harry's house.
Kevin and Hermione carried only their owl cages. The rest of their belongings were safely stored in a magically expanded backpack.
"This bag is so convenient. I can fit everything in here," Kevin remarked.
Ron eyed the bag with envy. "Wish I had one of those. Still… when you travel with us, you could just carry my stuff too, right?"
Kevin smirked. "Like last time? Sure."
It wasn't long before they reached Harry's house. This time, Kevin noticed the windows had heavy metal bars—clearly a new addition.
It looked like Dobby had already paid Harry a visit, causing trouble and prompting the Dursleys to tighten his confinement.
"How could they do this!" Ron burst out, furious. Hermione's face was equally grim.
Kevin, as usual, picked up a small stone and tossed it toward Harry's bedroom window—but instead of the clink of glass, there was no sound at all. The stone bounced off something invisible.
"What is that?" Ron asked in disbelief. "Did they get a wizard to trap Harry?"
"Not exactly," Kevin replied. "It's probably the work of a house-elf—Dobby, most likely."
Kevin had read about house-elves in the Hogwarts library: magical creatures with powerful innate magic.
"Harry! Can you hear me?" Kevin called out.
Silence.
He considered jumping to the second floor, but an invisible barrier blocked his way. Even shining a torch toward the window got no response.
"This barrier must block sound and light—it's meant to completely isolate him," Kevin muttered.
"So what do we do? Who'd want to lock up Harry like this?" Ron asked anxiously.
"Why don't we just write to Professor Dumbledore?" Hermione suggested. "He wouldn't let this happen."
Kevin shook his head. "If Dumbledore can't—or won't—break through this, then it's up to us."
They stood there, thinking, until Kevin suddenly shouted toward the house. "The one who put up this magic—come out and talk! I know you're here!"
No answer.
"I said, come out! Don't make me use force!" Kevin strode to the mailbox and, with nothing but sheer strength, crushed the metal into a ball.
Somewhere nearby, Dobby flinched in shock. Wizards weren't supposed to be that strong—especially against magic wards that resisted spells but not physical force.
Hermione and Ron exchanged uneasy looks.
Before Kevin could hurl the twisted mailbox at the shield, a small figure appeared: a trembling house-elf with bat-like ears and tennis-ball eyes.
"House-elf," Hermione whispered.
Dobby bowed nervously. "Hello, great wizard… and friends…"
Kevin went straight to the point. "That barrier—your doing?"
"Yes, Master Wizard," Dobby admitted, eyes on the ground.
"Why?"
"Because… Harry Potter must not return to Hogwarts. Terrible things will happen there. Dobby only wants to protect him!"
Kevin's gaze hardened. "Go on."
"There is a conspiracy—dark, dangerous. If Harry Potter goes back, he will be in grave peril."
"And?" Kevin asked, ignoring the details he knew Dobby wouldn't share.
"Dobby cannot let him return! Cannot!" the elf said, wringing his hands.
Kevin folded his arms. "You intercepted our letters, didn't you?"
"Yes…" Dobby mumbled.
"And you made his relatives lock him up even tighter?"
"Dobby was only trying to protect him—"
"You didn't protect him," Kevin cut in sharply. "You made his life worse. You turned his summer into a prison."
"No—Dobby—"
"I say you did," Kevin said firmly, each word hitting like a blow.
Dobby began slamming his head against the wall. Hermione, looking pained, touched Kevin's arm, urging him to ease up.
Kevin softened only slightly. "Harry will be in danger—I'm more certain of that than you are. But he has to face it. He's the Chosen One. Running away will only make him weaker. Now… remove the barrier. That's my final warning."
Dobby hesitated, but he knew Kevin would find another way. At last, he lowered his head and snapped his fingers. The invisible shield vanished.
"A wise choice," Kevin said, patting Dobby's head before heading for the window.
Hermione quickly asked, "Dobby, what's the conspiracy?"
"Dobby cannot say… cannot betray his master," the elf said, crouching down and muttering, "Bad Dobby, bad Dobby…"
Hermione sighed. "House-elves can't betray their masters—it's a magical binding."
Before she could ask further, a loud clang drew their attention. Kevin had ripped the barred window free with his bare hands. The sight made Dobby cower.
Inside, Harry stared in surprise. A moment later, Kevin had him pack his things into the expanded bag, then pulled him—along with Hedwig's cage—out the window.
They landed on the ground, and Kevin signaled Ron and Hermione to run.
To the Muggles inside, this was breaking and entering, followed by destruction of property. Kevin wasn't sticking around for the police—or the Dursleys' shouting.
Behind them, Uncle Vernon bellowed, "Harry! I won't let you get away with this!"
But they were already gone.