[68] The Longest Night

Hall accepted Harry's Galleons. "I'll protect Sirius until the holidays are over, unless school starts."

"Hey! I'm still here!" Sirius protested. Did this six-foot-tall man really need protection from a boy who barely reached his waist? He squatted down pitifully. "Harry! Godfather can take care of himself! Godfather doesn't need Weasley's protection! I'm super strong!"

Harry patted Sirius's black hair with indulgent delight. "Ah, Sirius, I believe you."

Hall rolled his eyes, waved to Harry, and pulled Ron towards the fireplace.

In half an hour, the fireplace between Grimmauld Place and the Burrow was connected. After learning Harry would be travelling frequently, Sirius had applied to the Floo Network Authority for expedited connection. They initially refused the line-cutting request, but money talked. Sirius paid a large sum demanding the fastest possible processing — and offered to pay more if needed.

Sirius and Hall were travelling together, which was Dumbledore's idea. Although Voldemort hadn't officially returned, Hall felt that with only thirty percent of his power remaining, he wasn't a threat. Dumbledore was strong and healthy — neither injured nor poisoned.

The biggest problem was breaking the fear surrounding Voldemort's name. Destroy his prestige. Only by overcoming fear could wizards find the courage to fight. Even eleven years after Voldemort's disappearance, wizards dared not utter his name, calling him "You-Know-Who." In the magical world, names possessed power. They feared speaking the name would reveal his location. The greater the fear, the stronger Voldemort's intimidation. Even Death Eaters who no longer wished to follow him — like the Malfoys — still obeyed out of fear.

Hall and Sirius's mission was to break down that wall. Make Voldemort a joke. Make his name no longer frightening.

And George and Fred were the most skilled at creating pranks.

Back at the Burrow, the house was quiet save for a single lamp.

Back at the Burrow, it was late. Mum, having received Hall's message, had gone to rest. Only one lamp was left on. The house was quiet.

Creak. Creak.

The sound of footsteps on the stairs startled Ron. Hall pushed him. "Go back inside. I'll find George and Fred."

He went up one floor and knocked three times. Ron pouted, feeling ostracised. He didn't care — following Hall, he was determined to find out.

The door opened. George and Fred peeked out. "What are you doing, little Ron and little Watermelon?"

Hall smacked George on the head and shoved the two aside. These two actually knew his nickname! Ron snorted, mimicking Hall's gesture, and strode in arrogantly.

George and Fred exchanged a glance. Hall must have something urgent.

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Hall turned and saw Ron looking around. "Ron, what are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to go back?"

Ron quickly grabbed Hall and whispered, "Isn't there anything you can't let me know? Why do you always keep things from me?"

His expression was pitiful. But Hall had seen that face countless times — it was completely ineffective. "It's not that I intentionally keep it from you. Knowing wouldn't do any good — it would only cause you more trouble."

"No." Ron shook Hall's arm. "Harry knows. I want to know too."

Ron pleaded. Hall rubbed his temples and reluctantly agreed. Definitely not because Ron looked so pitiful.

"Could you please not call me that?" Hall asked Fred.

"No way." George and Fred shook their heads in unison, arms around each other's shoulders, incredibly arrogant. Since Hall needed a favour, they had every right to be smug.

Hall shrugged. Judging from their attitude, they'd already agreed. Hopefully they'd stay arrogant when they heard the plan.

"I want to make some prank props."

The twins sat on the floor to discuss business.

"It needs to be fun and funny. Easy to operate. Suitable for everyone from five-year-olds to centenarians. Bright, attractive colours — eye-catching. A consumable — used once and gone. Reciting the spell requires repeating a name — that's our rule."

George and Fred were bewildered. This client's description was so vague that if Hall weren't their biggest spender, they'd be furious.

"So how much are you planning to sell it for?" Fred asked.

"Good value for money. One Knut."

George, Fred, and Ron exchanged horrified glances. Ron immediately threw himself at Hall. "You're not Hall! Who are you?!"

George and Fred screamed, "Mum! Hall's gone mad!"

Amid the chaos of Weasley family life, Harry found himself swept along.

Harry had completely immersed himself in the Weasley brothers' chaos, eating pudding while helping Ron argue. Sirius noticed Percy Weasley arguing heatedly with his younger brothers. He quietly observed, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him.

He realised Dumbledore's frequent visits to the Burrow weren't just for protection — they were to let Harry experience the warmth of a family. Although Sirius had always tried to give Harry love, he could never replace the impact of a real family. Seeing Harry's happy smile filled him with immense satisfaction.

"Is it good?" Hall's voice reached Sirius.

"I've finished eating. When can we leave?"

Hall took both plates to the kitchen. Really, leaving them on the table for Mum to clean.

"I'll go get something and be right back."

Dumbledore was also coming. Sirius and Hall could have handled it themselves, but after Dumbledore heard Kreacher describe the cave, he insisted on joining.

Hall had been searching the storeroom that morning, hoping to find something related to bloodlines — something like the Black family banner. He didn't find it, but he did find a strange object — very ancient yet very new. The array patterns inscribed on it were ones Hall had seen in Salazar Slytherin's books — lost knowledge from over a thousand years ago.

He asked Mum about it. She said those things were the inheritance of her brothers — Hall's uncles. Hall wondered: how could anyone abandon a simpler, faster improved version for cumbersome original patterns?

Since he was seeing Dumbledore, Hall decided to bring the object. Dumbledore was the greatest wizard of the age, with vast knowledge and experience. Letting such an encyclopedia slip by would be wasteful.

Hall packed the object in his storage bag and went downstairs. Harry and Ron went to play. Sirius sat on the sofa. Mum was in the kitchen, waving her wand at the dishes. Hall told her where he was going, and she readily agreed when she learned Dumbledore was accompanying them.

Through the fireplace, Dumbledore waited at Grimmauld Place. They took Kreacher with them.

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