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The
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hottest
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day
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of
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the
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summer
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so
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far
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was
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drawing
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to
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a
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close
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and
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a
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drowsy
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silence
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lay
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over
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the
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large,
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square
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houses
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of
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Privet
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Drive.
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Cars
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that
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were
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usually
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gleaming
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stood
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dusty
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in
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their
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drives
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and
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lawns
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that
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were
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once
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emerald
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green
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lay
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parched
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and
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yellowing;
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the
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use
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of
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hosepipes
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had
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been
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banned
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due
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to
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drought.
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Deprived
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of
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their
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usual
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car-
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washing
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and
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lawn-
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mowing
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pursuits,
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the
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inhabitants
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of
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Privet
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Drive
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had
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retreated
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into
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the
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shade
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of
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their
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cool
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houses,
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windows
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thrown
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wide
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in
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the
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hope
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of
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tempting
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in
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a
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nonexistent
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breeze.
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The
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only
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person
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left
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outdoors
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was
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a
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teenage
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boy
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who
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was
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lying
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flat
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on
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his
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back
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in
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a
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flower
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bed
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outside
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number
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four.
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He
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was
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a
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skinny,
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black-
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haired,
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bespectacled
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boy
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who
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had
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the
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pinched,
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slightly
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unhealthy
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look
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of
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someone
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who
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has
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grown
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a
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lot
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in
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a
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short
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space
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of
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time.
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His
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jeans
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were
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torn
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and
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dirty,
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his
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T-shirt
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baggy
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and
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faded,
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and
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the
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soles
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of
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his
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trainers
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were
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peeling
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away
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from
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the
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uppers.
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Harry
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Potter's
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|
appearance
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|
did
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not
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endear
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him
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to
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|
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the
|
|
neighbors,
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|
who
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|
were
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|
the
|
|
sort
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|
of
|
|
people
|
|
who
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|
thought
|
|
scruffiness
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|
ought
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to
|
|
be
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|
punishable
|
|
by
|
|
law,
|
|
but
|
|
as
|
|
he
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had
|
|
hidden
|
|
himself
|
|
behind
|
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a...
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