[48] The Sound of Trust

At dinner, Harry approached. "Hall, has anyone given you trouble since the reveal? The Slytherins were in an uproar."

Dumbledore had simply announced Henry William was Hall Weasley. No explanation. Hall's choice.

"If I explain, they'll think it's a lie. Let them make up stories. Keeps people at a distance."

"No problems." Hall shrugged.

Ron and Harry exchanged a glance. Ron's older-brother voice came out. "If you have problems, tell me. I'll beat them up."

"Yes. I have a problem right now."

"What? What?"

"Your grades."

Ron's face went red. "I'm trying."

Hall ruffled his hair. "It's fine. I can get you graduated."

By the time Ron graduates, Hall would practically run Hogwarts. A diploma was nothing.

"Hall! I'm the older brother!" Ron shook off Hall's hand and reached out to retaliate, but Hall easily dodged.

"Only one minute and thirteen seconds older." Hall grabbed his backpack and ran off.

"He's still the older brother!"

Harry and Hermione exchanged a smile and followed. The group arrived at the entrance to the Great Hall. They were quite eye-catching.

The people standing at the entrance were equally eye-catching.

Hall saw two figures on either side, like guardians. On the left stood Sirius Black with a sour face. On the right stood Draco Malfoy with the same expression. Draco nodded, head held high.

"Harry! Let's go eat! I've been craving Hogwarts food!" Sirius waved frantically. For a moment, the two seemed like peers.

"Hall, let's go." Draco turned and entered the Great Hall.

Sirius snorted, then turned to Harry with a warm demeanour.

Later, Hall learned that Sirius Black was actually a relative of Draco's. However, they seemed inherently at odds, their first meeting ending in cold silence.

"Harry, Ron, Hermione, I'll go in first." Hall waved and entered, ignoring Sirius.

Sirius snorted again. Hall realised he'd been mistaken — this man's mental age was definitely younger than Draco's. No more than three.

Sirius, meanwhile, had settled into Hogwarts life more smoothly than expected.

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After spending some time at Hogwarts, Sirius successfully integrated into the student body.

One day, the Weasley twins invited him to do them a favour. Sirius agreed. After all, he was currently the most popular person at Hogwarts besides Dumbledore.

"Sirius, you're an assistant professor," Harry whispered.

"Don't be so serious, Harry." Sirius grinned, pulling Harry along.

After a period of rest, Sirius's magic had almost fully recovered.

George and Fred exchanged a glance. "Harry, Professor Black — let's play Wizard's Duel!"

"Huh?" Harry and Sirius were stunned.

"It's a game Hall taught us," George said. "We'll pair up. George and me, Harry and Professor Black. On the lawn, we'll use the Knockback Jinx!"

Harry nodded. His Charms class was going well, although for now he could only push wooden crates.

"Hit and out! Both players hit, the opponent wins!" George added.

"Got it! Let's start!" Sirius was already rubbing his hands together.

Ten minutes later...

"Impossible! How could I lose?!" Sirius slumped on the lawn. He clearly remembered hitting Weasley, so why had two more Weasleys appeared from the other side?!

The twins and Harry exchanged glances and burst out laughing.

"On the surface, it was two against two, but actually —" Fred pulled out the miniature figures hidden in the corner, "it was two against four. We can use these to block damage."

Sirius scrambled up, ignoring the leaves, and grabbed the figures.

"Can these block one hit?" Sirius asked.

"More than that. The Knockback Jinx Harry used — this figure can withstand it three times. But if you used it, only once. See, the one you hit is broken." George pointed.

The figure was ripped. Sirius exclaimed, "I thought you designed this on purpose!"

"But Sirius said he just saw you in person!" Harry leaned closer.

"Yes. It was Hall's idea. A variant of the Disillusionment Charm combined with the Confundus Charm can confuse people's vision, making them think you're there," Fred said proudly.

"Hall again... Is that Hall really that powerful..." Sirius muttered.

"Hall is powerful!" the twins and Harry said in unison.

Sirius was speechless. He was about to retort, but realised Harry was also speaking, so he swallowed his words and rolled his eyes. He continued examining the figure. Clearly, Sirius was interested.

Fred and George exchanged a sly smile. They had chosen Sirius not only because he was easy to talk to, but because he had plenty of money. Sirius Black was currently the most eligible bachelor in the wizarding world, having inherited the entire Black family vault. Generations of nobility meant immense wealth.

The miniature figure wouldn't be cheap. Since it wouldn't be cheap, they'd raise the price and sell it to someone who could afford it. Those were Hall's words. And Sirius was the first customer Hall had found them.

"Can I buy this?"

A glint flashed in the twins' eyes. "Of course. We have brand new, unused ones." George smiled — a smile that even Percy's smelliest socks couldn't hide.

"No, no, no —" Sirius waved his hands. "I don't want these."

The twins looked at him suspiciously.

"Can the spell be reversed?" Sirius licked his lips. "Instead of the figure absorbing damage to the main body, what if the figure absorbs something and transfers it to the main body?"

The twins exchanged glances. This was the customised customer Hall had mentioned.

"You'll have to ask Hall." George handed Sirius a business card — prepared in advance by Hall, who said it would make VIP customers feel special.

Fred and George were visibly shocked. Hall's guess had been too accurate. The customer was someone he had his eye on. The business card was prepared in advance. Hall had guessed everything, step by step.

What exactly was he planning?

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