Chapter 1

1989, London City.

A group of elementary school students walked out of the gate of Wisteria Primary School, chattering about what they wanted to do after school, making the scene a bit noisy.

Among them, a chubby boy was pulling the hair of a thin little boy beside him. Behind him were a few followers, each occasionally kicking the thin little boy.

Anyone could see that this was a bullying incident.

However, for the chubby boy Dudley Dursley, who was bullying, this was actually a way of celebrating happily.

"Vicen Wright is finally gone!"

Dudley Dursley suddenly used his wrist to push the thin little boy to the ground and kicked him: "From now on, I'm the boss in this school! Call me Boss Dudley, remember, Harry!"

"Dudley..."

The thin little boy couldn't help but groan in pain. Dudley Dursley, who was tall and fat, kicked him, causing his injured area to throb.

The little boy struggled to frown and tried to get up, but was kicked down again by Dudley Dursley's followers, who were laughing and joking.

"Ha ha ha..."

"That bastard is finally gone!"

"From now on, no one will be able to control us!"

Just as these little guys were cheering, a group of students in graduation attire, surrounding a gray-haired boy, emerged from the school gate.

Several tall students, seeing this scene, rushed over and quickly pinned down Dudley Dursley and his gang!

"Hey, you guys have already graduated!"

Dudley Dursley tried to struggle, but was pinned down again. His face pressed to the ground, he mumbled, "You can't stay in this school anymore!"

"Boss Vicen hasn't left yet!"

The boy pressing down on Dudley Dursley slapped his head and said with a snort, "We haven't left the school yet. You beat someone today, so the protection fee still applies!"

"You..."

"What about us?"

The gray-haired boy slowly walked over, grabbed Dudley by the collar, and lifted him up, his eyes slightly narrowed, looking at the panicked chubby boy.

"Dudley Dursley, did you bring money today?"

"..."

Dudley Dursley couldn't help but swallow, the psychological shadow of the past five years resurfacing. He stammered and nodded, "I... I brought... I brought..."

"The usual rules?"

"...Yes... Yes..."

Dudley Dursley hurriedly nodded, took out five pounds from his pocket, and nervously handed it to the gray-haired boy, "I... I and... Piers... and Danny... Muggins... and Gordon... five people's..."

According to the standards set by the gray-haired boy Vicen Wright, any child seen fighting at Wisteria Primary School had to prepare one pound in advance.

Dudley Dursley was the leader of the Dudley Gang.

Since he was the leader, it was only natural for him to pay for his followers.

"Give them bread."

The gray-haired boy pushed Dudley to the ground.

A boy standing nearby took the pounds from Dudley Dursley, pulled out five palm-sized loaves of bread from his backpack, and threw them on the ground.

This was Vicen Wright's rule.

They weren't collecting protection fees, but doing legitimate business.

As for why a loaf of bread worth four new pennies was sold for one pound, it wasn't necessary to mention.

Similarly,

Rules were rules.

Even the victims in the school had to pay one pound to Vicen Wright for bread, even if they were innocent.

"Harry Potter."

The gray-haired boy waved for Dudley Dursley to move aside and walked to the thin little boy, "Do you want to write an IOU today?"

"...I... I still don't have money..."

Harry Potter looked up at the gray-haired boy, then slowly lowered his head, hesitant to speak, "I'm sorry, I can only..."

"It's fine."

The gray-haired boy shook his head indifferently, took a piece of paper and a pen from one of his followers, wrote an IOU, and handed it over.

[Harry Potter bought bread from Vicen Wright on June 30, 1989. The amount owed is one pound, to be repaid by July 31, 1996, with the annual interest rate following the bank's fluctuation.]

"..."

Harry Potter took the pen and signed his name.

Harry didn't really understand what interest rates were, but he knew that this IOU would get him a loaf of bread from the gray-haired boy.

This loaf of bread might be his dinner.

Harry had been living with his uncle Vernon Dursley since he was young. His cousin Dudley Dursley, who had just been taught a lesson by Vicen Wright, would likely go home and complain to his parents.

Harry knew from a young age that when the Dursleys were angry, they would take it out on him, and he probably wouldn't get dinner. This loaf of bread would at least stave off hunger.

After Harry Potter took the bread from the gray-haired boy's follower, he suddenly called out to him as he turned to leave.

"Vicen Wright!"

Harry Potter ran a few steps out of the school gate and called out to the gray-haired boy, "Which secondary school are you going to? I'll find you after I graduate in two years!"

"..."

Vicen Wright paused.

Harry Potter suddenly felt a bit nervous and quickly explained, "I want to... contact you... to pay you back in the future!"

All the students watched Vicen Wright, including his supporters in the school, who were eager for an answer.

Unfortunately, the gray-haired boy still didn't respond.

The gray-haired boy, who had left a deep impression on everyone's childhood at Wisteria Primary School, paused for a moment and then continued walking.

Just then, a car stopped at the school gate.

A man in a suit got out of the car, opened the door for Vicen Wright, and stood beside the car, looking somewhat respectful.

The man looked old, like a butler.

After the butler-like man watched Vicen Wright get into the car, he gently closed the rear door and sat back in the driver's seat.

The group of elementary school students watched this scene.

These little guys didn't know much about Vicen Wright's family background, only that he always seemed so authoritative.

Harry Potter, the thin little boy, stood at the front of the group, his eyes fixed on the car window, waiting for the car to start and leave.

This was a farewell.

Perhaps the elementary school students standing by the roadside would only realize when they grew up that they were not only saying goodbye to Vicen Wright but also to their childhood.

"You seem to have a lot of influence in this school..."

The middle-aged man in the driver's seat coldly started the car and said, somewhat gloomily, "But, you won't be in the same world as them anymore."

Hearing no response from the gray-haired boy, the man couldn't help but frown, "Vicen Wright, did you ask me to come pick you up today just to show me how well you're doing in the Muggle world?"

"Really..."

The gray-haired boy slowly turned his head, looked at the elementary school students through the window, and sighed, "Still so short-sighted... Mr. Crouch."

"Don't go too far."

"See that?"

The gray-haired boy ignored the man's temper and focused on Harry Potter in the crowd, speaking calmly, "That little guy is the famous Harry Potter..."

"Harry Potter?!"

The middle-aged man's voice rose, and he couldn't help but follow the gray-haired boy's gaze, "You found Harry Potter! No, wait... you've been in this Muggle school to protect Harry Potter?"

Any wizard hearing this name would be shocked, many wanting to sincerely thank the boy for bringing peace to the wizarding world.

Of course,

Many also wanted to kill Harry Potter.

Including the middle-aged man's son, Barty Crouch Jr.

"Who knows..."

The gray-haired boy didn't answer directly.

The boy just clasped his hands, resting his arms on his legs, and regained his intimidating presence.

"From now on, I don't think you'll question me anymore."

The gray-haired boy looked up at the middle-aged man in the driver's seat, his eyes narrowing slightly, a hint of red flashing in them, "After all... using the Imperius Curse on you all the time is troublesome..."