Harry Potter and the Candy Factory

The conversation between the two didn't last long. Even including the time Charlie took to finish his coffee, it was only about ten minutes.

After discussing Peng Peng's punishment, Charlie chatted with him about personal matters before dismissing him.

Soon, when Peng Peng slowly walked out of Charlie's office, the expression on his face was noticeably more relaxed than when he had entered.

With a "thud," the heavy wooden door behind him closed automatically, and he let out a heartfelt breath of relief, his eyes gleaming with a bright light.

In fact, before coming, Peng Peng had been under immense psychological pressure, fully prepared to be expelled from the Charlie's Chocolate Factory by Mr. Black.

Peng Peng had even resolved in his heart that if Mr. Black was truly determined to get rid of him, he would end it all in his room!

Not for anything else, but to be able to stay here forever, welcoming the so-called "liberation" day with the like-minded little elves around him.

Unexpectedly, Charlie was surprisingly not as angry as Peng Peng had imagined. He simply gave him a brief scolding, removed him from his position as supervisor, and then lightly brushed the matter aside without any further punishment.

After a wave of elation, a sense of gratitude couldn't help but rise in his heart.

The so-called supervisor position was not something Peng Peng valued too much, because he knew that with his skills, as long as he worked diligently on the production line, it wouldn't be long before Mr. Black would return that position to him.

And in the office, the sentence: "What would I do with you dead? You need to know that the entire factory can't find a second little elf who can make alchemical items like you…" was undoubtedly hinting at him…

After thinking it over, just as Peng Peng thought everything was going well and was about to lift his foot to return to his room to welcome a new day of work, a sudden voice behind him stopped him in his tracks.

"Peng Peng, ah… what did Mr. Black call you in for just now? Would you be interested in telling this old man?"

The voice was full of a dying breath, like an old bellows, and you could hear a faint wheezing sound as he spoke…

However, such a voice, like a grim reaper demanding a life, instantly made Peng Peng's goosebumps cover his entire body.

The foot that had just been lifted also froze in mid-air, unable to move forward or backward.

His neck turned stiffly like a rusty machine, turning his head back little by little.

Sure enough… in the distance behind him, Dulu's frail figure, supported by a cane, appeared in his eyes.

And further back, Russell was like a little follower, honestly following two steps behind Dulu. Seeing Peng Peng's gaze, he guiltily turned his head away, not daring to have more eye contact, as if afraid of being implicated…

"Grandpa Dulu… what a coincidence."

His mood changed like a roller coaster, and Peng Peng's expression, which had just relaxed, became twitchy again, forcing a smile that was more ugly than crying, and replied…

"Yes, it's quite a coincidence."

Dulu nodded with a smile, expressing his agreement. His wrinkled face was full of kindness. It would easily give people the illusion that Dulu was really like a kind old man at home, full of love for the younger generation…

"Come."

Suddenly, Dulu raised his hand and beckoned gently to Peng Peng.

"I haven't seen you in a long time, come over and let Grandpa take a good look at you…"

… … … … … … … … … … … … …

The next day, the sky was barely bright, and the sun had just poked half of its head out from the horizon.

The Dursley family, located on Privet Drive in Little Whinging, had already gotten up early and started preparing breakfast for the new day.

In the kitchen, Petunia was standing in front of the counter as usual, humming a melodious tune while frying bacon and eggs.

And Vernon Dursley was sitting at the dining table, enjoying his coffee while carefully reading the newspaper in his hand.

However, the only difference compared to the past was that the newspaper in his hand had successfully changed from "The Times" to "The Daily Prophet"…

Dursley habitually shook the newspaper, causing a rustling sound of paper rubbing against paper, and he couldn't help but complain to his wife beside him.

"You know what? That British wizarding… Prime Minister, Cornelius Fudge."

Petunia paused for a moment, then nodded and casually replied.

"Yes… you told me once a few days ago. What's wrong, dear?"

"He's simply an idiot!"

Dursley blew on his thick mustache with some resentment, and said, turning a page of the newspaper…

"I really don't know what those wizards are thinking… even such an idiot can be in such a high position! If it were me, I could definitely do better than him."

After speaking, he simply put the newspaper aside, no longer paying attention to the little people jumping on it, and then stood up and walked to Petunia's side.

"At least, I wouldn't let a newspaper be full of reports praising myself!"

Petunia rolled her eyes helplessly at her husband's words.

She gently tossed the frying pan in her hand, and used the spatula to flip the fried eggs and bacon.

Suddenly, the grease dripped into the pan, making a sizzling sound, and the rich aroma spread wantonly, filling the entire kitchen. Dursley couldn't help but lick his lips and swallow a mouthful of saliva…

"Dear… I feel like you're becoming more and more obsessed with things about those annoying wizards and the so-called wizarding world."

Focusing on the situation in the pot, without even moving her head, Petunia suddenly said.

"You've only been working there for a few months… but now you're like a completely different person than you were before. Even the things you bring home for Dudley are some little gadgets related to magic…"

"I… … …" Dursley's gaze moved away from the pot and looked at his wife, startled. He opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Indeed, just like Petunia said… after entering Charlie's Chocolate Factory, Dursley gradually fell in love with that place.

Whether it was the leisurely environment, the simple work, the generous remuneration, or the friends he drank with… all of them made him indulge in it.

But in reality, deep down, Dursley didn't think there was anything wrong with this at all... Because in his opinion, such a working environment and experience was irresistible to anyone.

Because in the noisy and busy city, to have such a job in the magical world that was neither excessively competitive nor filled with workplace intrigue and manipulation, was undoubtedly a paradise for anyone who had been through the mill of Muggle society!

Even, around two o'clock every afternoon, they would prepare afternoon tea for all the employees on time!!

But Petunia hadn't finished speaking... only to hear her "click" off the flaming gas stove, which suddenly made the whole kitchen quiet.

After a two-second silence, Petunia turned her head and looked at her husband's bewildered and complex gaze, and asked, word by word,

"Do you even remember... what the original purpose was of entering that factory opened by Charlie Black?"

As soon as these words came out, Dursley's whole body seemed to have been jolted, his eyes squeezed open the surrounding fat, widened a lot, and his voice unconsciously rose a few notches, as he retorted loudly,

"Of course I remember, it was for Dudley!"

After saying this, looking at Petunia's unwavering gaze, he seemed to feel guilty again, lowered his voice again, and explained in a low voice,

"I've been trying to find a way to lift the curse on Dudley. Not only in the factory, but even after leaving the factory and arriving in Diagon Alley, I would occasionally take the opportunity to ask the wizards around me... Even if no one knows what to do, I have never given up."

Having said that, Vernon took two steps forward, raised his thick arms, and pulled Petunia into his arms.

Taking a deep breath, he spoke with sincere emotion,

"Please believe me, Petunia. Even if I have changed a little, I am still your husband, still Dudley's father... My love for you is the most important part of my heart, at least that will never change."

Petunia's eyes were also filled with tears, she leaned her head on her husband's broad chest as before, feeling the unparalleled sense of security and reliability from him, reached out and hugged him as well, and then nodded silently.

The two of them hugged in the kitchen for a long time, and the hearts that had become erratic or uneasy due to various things were once again restored to calm.

After a long while, Petunia raised her head and said softly, "But... darling, please get better soon, okay?"

"Christmas is coming soon, our relatives and friends will come over, and if Dudley is still a pig's head by then, then..."

Petunia didn't finish speaking, but Dursley undoubtedly understood what she meant.

He tightened his arms around her, then nodded heavily, secretly determined, and even his eyes became firm.

"Don't worry! Darling. Believe me, soon, I will definitely make our child healthy and happy again..."

"Actually, I'm pretty happy now..."

At the door, Dudley, who had woken up at some point, hummed twice subconsciously, then patted his fleshy belly, interrupting the conversation between the two.

"Hurry up... what am I going to eat today? Mom, did you make egg tarts?"

"Oh my god, I'm sorry son, I forgot..."

"What!? How could you lie to me!!!!! You promised that you would make egg tarts for me to eat today!!!"

.........

After a noisy breakfast, as if it were a daily tradition, Dursley came to the fireplace and skillfully grabbed a handful of Floo Powder from the side.

With a shout of "Candy Factory!", he threw the Floo Powder on the ground.

Immediately afterwards, a raging fire burned, engulfing his huge body, and disappeared without a trace in a few seconds.

"Wow... cool."

Standing not far away, Dudley blinked, looked enviously at his father's dashing figure as he left, and couldn't help but exclaim,

"Mom! When can I be like my dad!?"

"Don't even think about it! Dear child, never."

...

After arriving at the factory, Dursley first greeted the friends who arrived with him with a smile, and then each came to their respective work positions, waiting for the start of the assembly line machine, so as to enter a new day of life.

However, this time, there was a slight difference compared to the past... It was already the time when work should officially begin according to the regulations, but the machine did not run, and it was still motionless.

Just as time passed little by little, and some people had already begun to discuss with their workmates what was going on, suddenly, Kobe walked in from the main entrance of the factory building.

In an instant, the sound of discussion suddenly became quiet, and when they saw the person coming, every Muggle or Squib employee unconsciously straightened their chests, making themselves look more energetic.

There was no doubt that they knew Kobe and had a kind of inexplicable awe for this "teacher" who had trained them for a week or even longer.

Kobe stood at the door with his hands behind his back, nodded, did not continue to walk inside, but turned around and waved in the direction outside the door, and urged,

"Hurry up, come in!"

"No, no way! You never told me! I have to work with a bunch of humans! Absolutely not!"

In a place invisible to the employees, a voice full of resistance also roared.

"Come on! It's okay... they're all pretty good guys."

Kobe was not angry, with a few smiles of watching the fun on his face, he kept saying,

"No way! No matter how good they are, they are still humans! I want to go to the elves' production line!"

The voice was as stubborn as a bull that was getting angry, as if it would be ignited by anger in the next second.

"But this is Mr. Black's order - do you understand what I mean?"

Seeing that the other party was so uncooperative, Kobe also put away his good face and asked officially.

Finally, as the voice fell, Pongo outside the door finally went silent, and walked into the factory gate dejectedly, as if accepting his fate.

Under the gaze of all the employees, Kobe pulled a small elf with a bruised nose and swollen face to the most conspicuous position on the assembly line and introduced to everyone,

"This... is Pongo. From now on, he will be working here with you!"