Chapter 178

Chapter 178

“Wow. I went all the way to Egypt, and you’re still more tanned than I am, Hermione.” Ron’s very first sentence froze the atmosphere.

Hermione fixed him with a murderous glare.

“Let’s hurry and buy our books,” Harry said, hastily rescuing the conversation. “I bought all mine over the past few days. I can come with you, and then we can get something nice at Mr Fortescue’s shop.”

“Fortescue?”

“Oh, he owns the ice-cream shop. I’ve been doing my homework there these past few days. Mr Fortescue knows an extraordinary amount and has helped me a great deal, especially with my essay on medieval witch-burning.”

“Are you all right, Ginny?” Harry asked as they exchanged greetings and headed towards the rear courtyard of the Leaky Cauldron.

Harry drew his wand with practised ease and tapped the correct bricks in the courtyard wall. A passage wide enough for everyone opened, revealing the bustling crowd at the far end of the cobbled way.

By then, the Weasley twins had already descended upon Suer.

“Hey, we heard all about it.”

“The great event in the Forbidden Forest last term.”

“You started that fire, didn’t you?”

“Burned down that whole patch of forest.”

“Brilliant.”

“You absolutely must take us next time.” The twins spoke in turns as they hooked an arm around Suer’s neck from either side.

“How did you find out?” Suer asked in surprise.

“Hagrid told us. We actually came to Diagon Alley once before leaving for Egypt,” George said.

“To collect the enormous prize,” Fred continued seamlessly.

“We ran into Hagrid at the apothecary. We tested him with a few questions, and he told us everything.” They exchanged a glance, grinned, then spoke in unison.

Hagrid must have been raised on Veritaserum.

It was hardly surprising that Hagrid knew who had cleared that section of the Forbidden Forest. Dumbledore would not hide it from him, especially when Hagrid was also the keeper of the Hogwarts grounds and forest.

Besides, Suer did not believe a single explosion and fire could have killed the enormous spider called Aragog.

Faced with twins so alike that even their mother sometimes confused them, Suer simply admitted what he had done. He had already planned to persuade the pair to hunt Acromantulas in the Forbidden Forest with him. Now that they had volunteered, he had no reason to refuse.

“Once term begins, I plan to visit the Forbidden Forest from time to time,” he said. The best way to strengthen himself quickly was through real combat, and no Dark wizard was likely to appear inside Hogwarts simply to fight him. That left only one suitable opponent–the Acromantulas Hagrid had allowed to multiply in the forest.

They could fight back, they were reasonably powerful, their venom could be sold, and their roasted legs were delicious. They were far better training targets than the dummies in the Room of Requirement, which could only stand there and absorb attacks.

“What will you do there? Start another fire?” Fred asked excitedly.

“Just thinking about it is thrilling!” George said.

“No, no. Once was enough. I don’t want to repeat it and get expelled from Hogwarts.” Suer shook his head. “I’m going after the Acromantulas. I set the fire last time because they had offended me, and I wanted revenge.”

He then listed every advantage of hunting Acromantulas.

When the twins heard how much a single bottle of Acromantula venom was worth, their eyes lit up.

“You absolutely must take us,” Fred and George said together after exchanging a glance.

“Take you where?” Mrs Weasley’s voice rang out. “What wicked scheme are you two plotting now?”
“I’ve already received Professor McGonagall’s letter. She described quite a few of your glorious achievements! Why can’t you learn from Percy? You spend every day fiddling with useless toys, just like your father.”

“Ha… it’s nothing, Mum.” Fred shrank beneath Mrs Weasley’s lecture.

“We’re going to look at the new Firebolt in Quality Quidditch Supplies. We’ll find you later, Mum,” George added hastily.

“Hey! Don’t go too far. We still have to visit Flourish and Blotts!” Mrs Weasley shouted, but the twins had already run off with their arms around each other’s shoulders. Whether they heard her was impossible to tell.

“Those two!” Mrs Weasley planted her hands on her hips and shook her head helplessly. “I’m sorry you had to see that, Suer. May I call you that?”

“It’s all right. George and Fred are wonderful people.” Suer smiled. “And of course you may, Mrs Weasley.”

Mrs Weasley studied Suer several times, then suddenly raised a hand to wipe the corner of her eye.

“You look so much like your mother,” she said. “Such a terrible loss…”

“Mum, shouldn’t we hurry? Don’t we still need to buy Ron a wand?” Percy stepped forward. “I need to find several books at Flourish and Blotts. Why don’t I go ahead and wait for you there?”

Percy wore a brand-new set of wizard’s robes, with his Head Boy badge pinned squarely to his chest. It flashed silver whenever the light struck it. He had plainly spent a great deal of time polishing it.

“Oh, I nearly forgot.” Mrs Weasley’s manner was much gentler towards the child who made her proudest. “All right, you go ahead.”

Then Mrs Weasley invited Suer to visit while urging Ron and Harry to hurry.

“Come to the Burrow when you have time, dear. Our whole family would be delighted to have you.”

“Ron, hurry. We still need to buy your wand and some clothes. Look at you–everything is far too short now. If your father hadn’t won that prize… We haven’t much time. Move along.”

“Coming, Mum.” Ron, who had been whispering with Harry behind them, called back before pulling Harry forwards.

“Thank you for the invitation, Mrs Weasley. I would be very happy to visit when I have time.” Suer smiled and nodded.

“What a polite boy.” Mrs Weasley looked thoroughly pleased. “Ron, you should learn from Suer. The professors told me he is one of the best students in your year.”

Ron kept his head down and continued murmuring to Harry about Egypt. Perhaps he had not heard her, or perhaps the comparison had wounded his pride.

“Did you hear me?” Mrs Weasley demanded, growing annoyed. She gave Suer an apologetic smile.

“Yes, Mum,” Ron mumbled indistinctly. “Can we hurry? Didn’t you say we were running out of time?”

Harry accompanied Ron to buy a wand, and Ginny naturally went with them. Harry was there, after all, and she had stolen countless glances at him while talking to Hermione.

The twins had already vanished. After a word to Mrs Weasley, Percy marched away alone with his chest thrust out.

The group scattered in every direction through Diagon Alley, leaving only Suer and Hermione where they had stood.

“Shall we buy everything else first, then visit a few apothecaries for the Animagus ingredients and finish at Flourish and Blotts?” Suer asked Hermione.

“All right.” Hermione clasped her hands behind her back and nodded prettily.