After Fox sent Vid away, Dumbledore sat in his office, with Tom Riddle's diary beneath his hand.
At this moment, the book looked no different from any diary in a Muggle Shop, seemingly ordinary, but Dumbledore could still sense the evil power of the Soul Artifact emanating from it.
The Pendant Box was already one of Voldemort's more mature creations, capable of seeing into a person's weaknesses and darkness, but the "messages" left by its master were actually few.
However, the diary was different. When Voldemort created it, he wasn't as skilled and likely left too much "thought" within it.
But Dumbledore had no interest in exploring it for now; he was unconsciously staring at the diary, yet what flashed in his mind was still the phantom formed on the Pendant Box.
Ariana...
Even though he knew it was fake, seeing her again made Dumbledore feel as if his heart was being torn apart.
The weakest, darkest, and most regretful part of his inner self was so unexpectedly exposed.
So much so that, when Vid mentioned he still had a Soul Artifact, Dumbledore subconsciously thought he meant the Resurrection Stone.
That black stone was what he most yearned for, yet feared the most.
Legends had long stated that the deceased do not truly return to life.
But if Ariana's soul truly returned...
What would she want to say?
...
Vid stayed at Sirius' house on Privet Drive at noon, and after lunch, they planned to go to Diagon Alley to buy some things.
Lupin planned to make French cuisine for lunch, but he ran out of ingredients, so Vid and Harry decided to go out together to buy some.
"Beef, eggs, green onions, cabbage..."
Vid looked at the list Lupin had written out, while Harry casually placed a carton of eggs into the cart.
As they were selecting items, they heard a burst of crude laughter.
A group of teenagers were in the sports equipment section, comparing each other with boxing gloves. One tall and stout boy was holding a companion by the neck, boasting about the way he knocked someone down.
Harry frowned, "Oh, it's Dudley and his gang."
"Your cousin?" Vid asked.
He also recognized Dudley by now—without a doubt, the tallest and fattest blond kid was Dudley Dursley, who had gotten even fatter since last year.
"Yeah." Harry showed a look of disdain, "Let's avoid them."
He pushed the cart in the other direction, but before he could turn around, Dudley's friend spotted them.
"Hey, look! Who's that?" A skinny boy shouted, "It's the filthy young Potter!"
A group of boys gathered, while Dudley stayed behind, showing a troubled expression.
It's not that he didn't want to bully Harry anymore... it's just that Dudley was afraid of the wizard's strange methods, yet didn't want to lose face in front of his friends and let them see he was actually a bit scared of the "young Potter."
He hesitated and reluctantly walked over.
"Hey, Potter, did you make a new friend?"
A lazy skinny boy took the lead, he glared at Vid, originally intending to bully him as well, but the moment their eyes met, he immediately realized the person before him was not someone to be trifled with.
So the skinny boy still targeted Harry, mocking, "Buddy, maybe you just got here and don't know how rotten this young Potter is—no school would take him, so he can only go to a school for young offenders!"
"Shut your filthy mouth, Pete! Don't howl like a pig!"
Harry swiftly retorted, his face turning red with anger.
Even though Vid knew he wasn't at any "school for young offenders," Harry still felt humiliated.
"Hey, do you want to try our fists, Potter?"
Pete and a few other boys immediately clenched their fists, circling Harry, while one shouted to the back at Dudley, "Dudley, we need to teach your annoying cousin a lesson!"
Harry gripped his Magic Wand, internally struggling—he still remembered he couldn't use magic here.
Seeing Harry's action, Dudley immediately stepped back two paces.
"Come on, boys, don't cause trouble here!" The cashier at the supermarket quickly said.
Vid jerked his head, saying, "Step outside for a moment?"
"Outside? Who do you think you are?" Pete taunted.
"Harry's friend," Vid said, "Or if you'd rather admit you just had a meal in the toilet, which is why your mouth is full of crap, we'll overlook what you just said."
"Or maybe, are you just picking on Harry because he's always patient, so you dare provoke him? You're just like a Chihuahua who thinks its very mighty when it pees around."
"Oh, there's still a difference; at least Chihuahuas are cute, but when you go out, you'll lower the attractiveness level of British people, won't you?"
Pete widened his eyes, speechless, while even Harry was shocked, staring at Vid.
Honestly, even when they quarrel, they usually just say things like "damn," "hell," or "go to hell."
"Mudblood" was the worst thing Harry had ever heard, and he never expected Vid to be so good at insulting people.
Pete pointed at Vid, making incomprehensible noises, before finally shouting, "Come out! I'm going to beat you half to death today."
"Wow... how scary..."
Vid said expressionlessly, further infuriating them into jumping up and down, shouting, "Get out here! Get out here!"
He handed the cart to Harry, saying, "You go check out."
Then he followed those people outside.
"Wait, Vid!"
Harry anxiously pushed the cart after him, but when he reached the exit, he was stopped by the cashier.
"Pay up, kid!"
Harry messily pulled out some money and put it on the counter, intending to go outside to find Vid, but was held back by the cashier.
"Wait, I haven't given you change yet!"
"I'm in a hurry! I'll come back later!" Harry said hastily.
However, the cashier wouldn't let go, stubbornly saying, "If you don't come back, whom should I go to? Do I have to put everything back?"
Even if Harry was slow, he realized the cashier was deliberately trying to stop him. Annoyed and impatient, he said, "Why are you stopping me? My friend's about to start a fight with them!"
"Aren't you regularly chased and beaten anyway?" The cashier bluntly said, "Even if you go, you won't be of any help. It's better if you don't get involved!"
"Vid's in this conflict because of me!"
Harry struggled intensely, shaking off the cashier's grip as he dashed out the door, almost colliding with someone.
"Slow down." Vid steadied him, coming back through the door. "Why didn't you bring the groceries?"
"Vid? Wait... you're back so soon?" Harry asked in surprise. "Where are Pete and Dudley?"
"Crying! Don't mind them," Vid said casually.