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Harry's twelfth birthday arrives, but the Dursleys completely ignore it. Harry, feeling disappointed but not surprised, reflects on how they have never celebrated his birthday before. Meanwhile, Uncle Vernon focuses on his big business deal, talking only about an upcoming dinner with a potential client. Harry realizes that his birthday is once again insignificant in the Dursley household.

The Dursleys hadn’t even remembered that today happened to be Harry’s twelfth birthday. Of course, his hopes hadn’t been high; they’d never given him a real present, let alone a cake—but to ignore it completely…

At that moment, Uncle Vernon cleared his throat importantly and said, “Now, as we all know, today is a very important day.”

Harry looked up, hardly daring to believe it.

“This could well be the day I make the biggest deal of my career,” said Uncle Vernon.