Harry Potter: The Golden Viper

0100 Return

He had left in the dead of winter, when the snow piled up high and blocked the door, and now he returned in the peak of spring, when the maple leaves had shed their crimson hues and burst into fresh green. The vibrant foliage contrasted with the clear blue sky, creating a refreshing and pleasant scenery that lifted his spirits.

He was on the outskirts of the city, where the ground was littered with rusty iron rails, and the narrow streets had hardly changed since his last visit. Unlike the muggle city that was constantly evolving, the wizarding world seemed to be frozen in time. The old buildings with a hundred years of history bore the marks of time, stubbornly resisting any change. They had a charm of their own, but also a sense of decay.

The only exception was the six-story building with a sky-blue exterior wall that stood out among the gray surroundings. The bright color was like a splash of ink on an old painting, attracting curious eyes from passers-by. Behind the newly renovated iron gate was a courtyard that had also undergone a transformation.

The dirt-covered courtyard was now paved with smooth stone slabs. In the flower bed in the corner, bright Tudor roses and clover grass were bathing in the morning sun. The golden sunlight danced on the delicate petals, sparkling with crystal dewdrops. A fountain in the center of the courtyard spouted water into the air, creating a soothing sound. A sense of satisfaction filled his chest as he looked at the beautiful scene.

He wore a black short-sleeved T-shirt and blue jeans, and sneakers on his feet. He looked like a typical muggle, standing quietly in the yard. Behind him was a large suitcase that contained gifts he had promised to Mrs. Reagan for the children.

Carrying such a big suitcase was actually very troublesome, but he had no choice. He couldn’t pull out a folding bicycle from a handbag.

The noise of breakfast in the dormitory gradually subsided. He knew that soon a bunch of children in ill-fitting and worn-out uniforms would rush out and start their day’s work.

Delivering milk, delivering newspapers, washing dishes for breakfast shops - that was what most of the children’s childhoods were like. He had done similar things when he was here in his early years.

Of course, he soon got tired of these boring and low-income jobs and started doing some more interesting and profitable ‘tricks’.

For example, doing homework for children from a grammar school located in the center of the old city a few miles away, using his ‘superpowers’ to escort some bullied children to and from school, or reselling some small things that children would be interested in.

The last one had the highest income, but he didn’t do it for long because he ran into trouble. Although there was no such thing as ‘urban management’ on British streets, muggle police or government prosecutors also played a role in maintaining the city’s appearance.

Time was a magical container that could turn bitter memories into sweet wine. Things that happened in the distant past and were not beautiful became fragrant with time.

“Experience is more important, Cage. Even if there are more residents on East Street, I can guarantee that I can finish the task faster than you!”

A crisp and spirited voice came from the hall, making him snap out of his reverie. He raised his eyebrows and curled his lips into a smile brighter than the golden sunlight.

When they saw the tall and handsome young man standing in the courtyard, those children who came out one after another across the hall were stunned. They didn’t react even when they were pushed by the little ones who were blocked in the hall.

“Brother Bryan?”

The brown-haired boy at the front of the crowd rubbed his eyes and muttered incredulously.

“Good morning, kids!”

Bryan grinned and opened his arms wide, inviting them to hug him.

The summer weather was as fickle as a teenage girl’s mood. It shifted without warning, betraying its earlier promises. The morning sky, clear and bright, soon gave way to a sudden downpour. The ancient sewer, neglected for decades, could not cope with such rapid rainfall. In no time, the stone street was flooded with water that reached your ankles. The water was murky and cold, soaking your shoes and socks. You could feel the dirt and debris brushing against your skin as you walked through the puddles.

But the bad weather could not erase the good mood of the children in the orphanage. They held their bags over their heads and walked quickly through the puddles with smiles on their faces. They ran from all directions to that six-story building that stood out like a beacon of hope among the gray ones. It was the only building in the area that had a sky-blue exterior wall and a newly renovated iron gate. 

In the not-so-spacious hall, Bryan was surrounded by dozens of children, some as young as four or five years old, and some as old as Harry and his friends. They looked at Bryan eagerly and listened attentively to him telling about the beautiful scenery of the outside world. His voice was warm and lively, his eyes were sparkling with excitement, and his gestures were animated and expressive. He made them feel like they were traveling with him to those exotic places.

“-Not only Europe, Dean. The reason why I haven’t come back for so long is because I have also been to other continents. One of them is Egypt in Africa. You must have heard of it, right?” 

He took out his camera and showed them a picture of the majestic pyramids and the endless deserts that he had captured. The picture was clear and vivid, showing the contrast between the golden sand and the azure sky. The children gasped in awe and admiration. 

“Wow, Brother Bryan, that’s amazing!” 

One of the children exclaimed. “Brother Bryan, I saw something like that on the TV in Mrs. Kelly’s house when I delivered milk to her.” 

A little boy with red cheeks in the crowd waved his hand excitedly and shouted, “It’s beautiful there!” 

“Can we also have a TV, Brother Bryan?” 

A little girl who still had a milky voice in her speech asked with envy.

“That’s not a problem, Lena.” 

Bryan kissed Lena’s forehead and smiled, “I will talk to Mrs. Reagan about this. In the future, every dormitory in this building will have a color TV. Even, we can arrange a room to put a few computers. That way, when you have some free time, you can take turns playing games or something."

The children burst into cheers that drowned out the sound of rain and almost shattered the glass of the hall doors and windows. In the noisy laughter, some curious children also asked why Bryan, who was a salesperson for a drilling company, would need a drill in a place like Egypt where there are deserts everywhere.

 “Cough cough, there are also cities on land there, Eliza.” 

Bryan touched his temples and said awkwardly, “Where there is land, there is always a need for drills-” 

“Brother Bryan!” 

Squatting in front of him, little Hammer who finally found a chance to speak waved his hand. He looked at Bryan eagerly and asked, 

“Can you stay at home for a few more days this time?” 

“Of course no problem, little Hammer.” 

Bryan rubbed Hammer’s hair and smiled happily, 

“I will stay for a few more days, kids. In fact, in addition to seeing you this time, I also want to help solve your problem of going to school. The public school guys can’t always fool me with the lack of classrooms and teachers!” 

The children looked at each other and then laughed strangely. 

“This problem has been solved, Brother Bryan!” 

Little Hammer showed an expression of showing off. He shouted happily, 

“Sister Victoria has already helped us negotiate with the school. By September, many of us will be able to go to public school!” 

“Sister Victoria?” 

Bryan opened his mouth in surprise. 

“Who is that? A new staff member?”