[156] The Cloak and the Dagger

To Ron's surprise, George and Fred were not at the front. "Never mind! For Mum's delicious pudding tarts!" He cut off the two biggest pieces and waved to Hall. "Hall, come quick!"

Ginny and Hall walked in together. Seeing the largest tart on the table, Ginny laughed. "Ron, is there one for me?"

Ron looked at her with sudden realisation. He almost forgot about his youngest sister. He looked at the other tart with a pained expression. He could not touch Hall's, so he reluctantly pushed his own towards Ginny, then quickly turned away. Out of sight, out of mind.

"Ron is so cute," Ginny said to Hall.

Hall nodded. "The kind of cute that comes from the whole family being a bit slow."

"George, Fred, let Ron have his way," Hall said lazily, waving his spoon.

Ginny was about to say the twins would not listen. Then George and Fred actually slowed down. Ron seized the opportunity and snatched a tart.

Ginny blinked. When did those two become so agreeable?

"It is because they need my help." Hall tapped his tart with his spoon.

Ginny looked thoughtful. She knew a little about their business. "That Rita Skeeter is so annoying!"

Hall had not even said anything at the mention of Rita Skeeter's name. Molly exploded first.

"Hall, do not pay any attention to what that woman wrote!" She waved her spoon. "The Daily Prophet has fallen! They actually publish such unrealistic speculation! My little Hall is not like that! He would never do that to Harry!"

George and Fred nodded frantically, heads down, devouring their tarts. Yes, yes, yes! Mum was right! Their little Hall might just be eyeing Harry's wallet.

Hall gave them a look. They buried their heads deeper.

"That Skeeter woman... well, anyway, we do not have to worry about her now," Hall said with a shrug.

Ron, mouth full of tart, mumbled, "Hall, you are too easygoing! But Rita Skeeter seems to know a lot of gossip. Maybe someone from Slytherin secretly told her!"

Ginny hesitated, as if about to nod, but remembered her brother was a Slytherin.

George and Fred did not care. "We think it is very possible!"

"It is not that serious," Hall said calmly.

Everyone looked at him with pity. Poor little Hall. They could not accept that a classmate from the same house would betray him.

Hall decided to skip the topic. "Anyway, Mum and Dad, you do not need to worry. That woman probably will not be publishing any more comments about me for a long time."

Arthur and Molly did not think much of it. But the twins, who knew Hall's methods better, exchanged eager glances. What had their cute little brother done?

Just as the children finished their tarts, Molly had prepared dinner. Hall secretly rubbed his stomach. A little full, but he could still eat a few more bites.

"Oh, right," Arthur said, sitting at the head of the table. "Charlie sent a letter. He said the Romanian Dragon Protection Society still has some dissatisfaction with the investigation into the death of the Ukrainian Ironbelly. It is about that curse."

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The letter was not detailed. Perhaps Charlie did not know much, or the Society did not want to discuss a curse targeting the soul. What they were saying was — they were dissatisfied with the investigation and wanted Hogwarts to provide compensation.

"Should not they go to the headmaster for something like this?" Molly frowned. "Why go to Hall?"

Hall ate quietly.

"Probably because it is not easy to take advantage of Headmaster Dumbledore," Hall said knowingly.

He thought to himself — he was still a child. Let Dumbledore handle it. But thinking about the dead Ironbelly and all the materials left on its body... dragon heart, dragon blood, dragon nerves. His mouth nearly watered.

If he could deal with the Dragon Protection Society, it would not be a bad idea.

After dinner, everyone went back to their rooms. Ron pulled Hall aside, ready for a chat. But before he could act, George and Fred grabbed Hall.

"Wait... no! Hall..." Ron blinked at his empty hands.

"Hall! Our dearest little brother! Our boss! Should we —"

The two tall older brothers sandwiched Hall between them. "Give us some more investment!"

"The clone doll business and the fireworks business — you two must have made quite a bit of money, right?" Hall remained unmoved. Business was business. "Do not you have a single penny left? What about my earlier investments? You did not have to pay for materials, so where did your money go?"

George and Fred exchanged a glance.

Hall watched quietly, waiting to see how they would try to fool him.

Unexpectedly, they pulled him into their room and closed the door.

"We found a shop in Diagon Alley! We want to open a joke shop! Hall, we need your help!"

Hall was already prepared for this idea. Each of his brothers had distinct personalities — a father at the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, Bill at Gringotts in Egypt, Charlie studying dragons in Romania. Fred and George having their own ideas was perfectly normal. Even Hall himself dreamed of becoming the richest wizard.

"You two are only in your fourth year, right?" Hall narrowed his eyes. "If you told me this two years from now, right before you graduate, I would vote without hesitation. But you still have three years until graduation."

And considering they ultimately failed to graduate... though that was not their fault. The blame lay with a certain pink toad.

"Everything else is negotiable, but you two need to graduate first. Otherwise, you will need a proposal that convinces me."

Hall looked at them. Fearless as ever, they involuntarily puffed out their chests under his gaze.

"You are in fourth year now, so you will be taking your O.W.L.s next year, right?"

Fred and George were definitely smarter than Ron. Otherwise, they would not have come up with so many interesting ideas. The problem was that their intelligence was mostly not channelled into their studies.

"Twelve Excellent grades..."

"Hall! Are you trying to kill your two dear brothers?!"

"Bill got twelve Excellent grades. I believe my two smart brothers can do it too."

Fred and George looked bitter. "Eight Excellent grades!" Fred tried.

"Ten!" Hall countered.

Fred shoved George. Brother! Join the battle! Twelve is really impossible!

"Nine! Hall, that is the limit!"

"But Percy can definitely get twelve Excellent grades." Hall was provoking them.

"Can we compare to that nerdy Percy... nine! Really! Nine! No more than that!"

Hall sighed. "Fine. Nine Excellent grades it is. When you produce nine Excellent grades, your farce can finally begin."

The twins stared at him. "We actually got tricked by Hall?"

George shrugged. "It is not unacceptable. After all, it is Hall."

"Okay, that is true. As long as it is not our little brother Ron, it is not unacceptable."

"I heard everything you said."

The twins grinned. "It is okay, our little Ronnie is used to it! Since the joke shop cannot open for now, Hall, how about trying our new product?"

"I refuse." Hall tried to push them away. But having suffered such a loss, they would not let him leave easily.

Fred hugged Hall while George pulled out something wrapped like candy.

It looked like candy. But could anything from the twins' pockets really be edible?

"That is it!" Hall exclaimed, as if remembering something.

The twins hardened their resolve to ignore whatever he said.

"A new product that I can offer you the rights to collaborate on! If you do not let go now, there is no point in talking about profit sharing!"

They instantly released him and slapped his back. "Oh! Our good brother! Hurry up and show us!"

Hall rolled his eyes. He pulled out the silver coin he had previously given Harry — the one with a pre-engraved spell. When he gave it to Harry, his skills were not quite there. But after upgrading his alchemical talent, creating them was much easier.

"Do not use too much force, or it will trigger prematurely," Hall said a step too late.

Fred, brimming with curiosity, had already begun examining the coin, kneading and squeezing it.

Fred fell fast asleep.

George stared. "Hall, how did you do that? I did not sense any magical fluctuations at all!"

Hall smiled. "This is a spell I imprinted on it beforehand. It induces sleep. No incantation required. Just throw it forcefully, or throw it at yourself, and the spell triggers."

George practically nodded his head off. Interesting! So interesting!