Harry Potter and the Candy Factory

Charlie subconsciously touched his nose, a look of utter absurdity appearing in his eyes. The corners of his mouth twitched, and the smile he had been wearing completely vanished. He didn't know what kind of expression to make upon hearing this absurd news...…

Even Dumbledore, standing beside him, raised an eyebrow, looking at his boss with surprise, seemingly curious as to what earth-shattering mistake Dudley had made to warrant such a punishment from Charlie Black, who was usually so amiable.

"Dudley…"

He muttered this extremely familiar name again, and the confusion he had felt before suddenly cleared.

No wonder, no wonder he gave up his good position as a company director to come to his factory and start as a worker... He thought it was a sign of his conscience, but now it seemed it was probably for that poor little piglet.

His thoughts paused here. Charlie looked up at the ceiling, a sense of admiration rising in his heart:

As expected, people are complex. Although, because of Harry, his first impression of this bloated, rude fellow wasn't very good, he had to admit that, at least as a father, he was respectable.

"Alright…"

Charlie sighed, closed his eyes, and said softly.

"It seems that little prank we played back then was a bit too much."

"Mr. Black, what… what did you say?"

Peng Peng in front of him blinked his large eyes, seemingly not hearing Charlie's words clearly, and took two steps forward subconsciously, asking tentatively.

Charlie had no choice but to raise his eyelids and glanced helplessly at the little guy in front of him, returning to the gentle tone he had just used.

"I said, I understand—I'll find time to deal with this matter."

Having said that, he sighed again, held his forehead, and pinched the area around his temples, while planning when to go and put an end to this incident that had lasted for nearly several months.

Upon receiving the answer he wanted, Peng Peng was stunned at first, and then, reacting, the expression on his face visibly became delighted.

"Do you have anything else?" Charlie continued to ask.

He shook his head hastily.

"No! There's nothing else!"

"Then go ahead."

Nodding, he waved his hand at Peng Peng, signaling him to leave.

"Okay!"

Peng Peng agreed very decisively. After speaking, he turned his head and quickly walked towards the door with steps that couldn't hide his joy. The heart that had been hanging in the air finally settled down.

After all, before coming to Charlie, Peng Peng himself was still in a state of semi-ignorance about this matter.

Although Dudley had begged him to help with this favor, he hadn't actually told him what exactly he had done to offend Mr. Black, only repeatedly saying that it was some "minor matter."

Helplessly, Peng Peng, who had agreed under the influence of alcohol and the atmosphere at the time, naturally wouldn't easily break his promise, so he braced himself and came to Charlie's presence.

Now, seeing Charlie nod in agreement, he finally breathed a long sigh of relief.

However, just as he couldn't wait to leave, he didn't expect that he hadn't even taken a few steps when a voice suddenly made him stop in his tracks again.

"Wait for me outside. After I finish talking with Mr. Black, we'll leave together."

A shiver suddenly ran through him, from his tailbone straight to the top of his head. His original happiness instantly vanished.

"Understood… Grandpa Dumbledore."

He stiffly turned his neck and showed Dumbledore, who was still sitting comfortably on the sofa, a smile that was more ugly than crying. Then, hanging his head, he walked out of the room step by step.

From his back, Charlie seemed to see a hint of desolation and sorrow, and couldn't help but chuckle, but he didn't say anything more, just quietly watched Peng Peng close the door tightly, leaving the remaining time in the office to the two of them…

… … … … … … … … … … … … …

Peng Peng leaned against the wall by the door like a primary school student who had made a mistake, staring at the floor, as if he could see something new from the tiles he had looked at for more than ten years.

Fortunately, Dumbledore didn't make him wait too long. Charlie simply gave a few instructions and then let him leave.

The door opened again. When he saw Grandpa Dumbledore, with a benevolent face, slowly walking out of the office with a cane, he was already so frightened that he kept swallowing saliva.

You must know that, according to his understanding of Grandpa Dumbledore, secretly taking leave while others are working hard and then running to the wizard's bar to drink is not something worth affirming in his eyes…

If nothing unexpected happens, according to the usual tradition, he would definitely not escape a loving education… It is common to have a few more bumps on his head at least, or fly out directly at worst.

The surrounding air suddenly became cold. Just as Peng Peng lowered his head in torment, closed his eyes, and waited for the impending punishment, a warm hand gently landed on his head and patted it softly.

Peng Peng was stunned. Before he could react, he heard Dumbledore say beside him.

"Well done… It seems you understand Mr. Black's good intentions."

His words were filled with unprecedented comfort and kindness, causing his brain to shut down for a moment.

What good intentions??? Peng Peng was a little confused.

Raising his head, he stared incredulously at Grandpa Dumbledore in front of him.

"Of… of course."

Although he didn't understand what he was talking about, Peng Peng immediately put on a look of great benefit in order to avoid being beaten, and nodded sincerely.

"I completely understand Mr. Black's meaning."

Dumbledore didn't suspect anything else, just smiled, turned his head and walked towards the stairs, and then said to himself.

"Let's go, we should go see what Russell is doing. Maybe this useless body of mine can help…"

"Okay, Grandpa Dumbledore!"

Peng Peng, who still wanted to think, hurriedly responded and could only put it aside for now. Then, he hurried forward two steps and helped Grandpa Dumbledore down the stairs.

… … … …

In the Dursleys' house

With a loud thud in the first-floor living room, Dudley's huge, fat body burst out of the fireplace along with the flying ashes.

His legs staggered forward a few steps, and then, unable to stand still, he simply fell to the floor with another "thud!" and stopped moving.

On the second floor, Petunia, hearing the noise, hurried to the staircase and was startled by the sight in front of her.

"Oh my god, darling!"

She screamed, and without caring about anything else, she dropped the things in her hand and rushed down the stairs to Vernon's side.

Her thin arms seemed to drive the strength of her whole body, barely managing to turn her husband's burly body over, revealing a face covered in crimson.

"Dar… darling."

Vernon hiccupped, his bleary eyes almost unable to open, and showed his wife a happy smile.

Then, he raised his thick arm and made a limp "OK" sign, and said vaguely.

"Don't worry… There's nothing wrong anymore. Soon, Dudley should be able to turn back."

However, this news did not make Petunia happy, because at this moment, she was obviously more concerned about her husband than her son.

"What did you do!? Why did you drink so much?"

Her brows furrowed into a knot, and her eyes were filled with worry.

"Drank a little, drank a little with him… That guy, his alcohol tolerance is really scary… A little tired, don't want to move, let me sleep for a while."

Dudley mumbled, and by the end, even his words became blurred, and only a few characters could be vaguely recognized.

His drowsy eyes could no longer support him, and his heavy eyelids fell, forming a slit…

In less than half a second, thunderous snores resounded throughout the living room, as if shaking the entire house.

At the staircase, Dudley poked his head out from behind the corner of the wall, looking at his father sleeping on the floor in the living room, blinking his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking.