Chapter 140: Letter from Hogwarts and the Headmaster

On August 1st, Eda didn't have to go to the Leaky Cauldron because it was her day off. She took one day each week to relax. Last night, after returning home, Eda gave Ginny the signed autograph from Harry Potter as a gift for her tenth birthday.

Receiving a personal autograph from her idol (and dream crush) was a reason for joy. Overwhelmed with excitement, Ginny had chattered non-stop with Eda all night, every sentence revolving around Harry Potter.

Having only gone to bed in the early hours, it was no surprise that Eda slept in. By the time she and Ginny sat down in the kitchen for breakfast, everyone else was already there. The twins were unusually well-behaved, having been caught red-handed by Mrs. Weasley for whatever mischief they had been plotting in their room. After receiving a good scolding, they had been keeping a low profile.

Just as Eda sat down, the mail owls arrived, along with the latest edition of the Daily Prophet. Percy, who was closest to the window and looking rather disheveled with his tousled hair, went to retrieve the letters. He also stuffed five Knuts into the small leather pouch tied to the newspaper owl's leg.

Percy handed the newspaper to Mr. Weasley and distributed the Hogwarts letters. Although there wasn't one from Charlie this year, Ron had received his acceptance letter.

Eda opened her own letter, unsurprised to see the usual list of required textbooks. However, since she had chosen three elective courses this year, she also needed additional books: Unfogging the Future for Divination, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them for Care of Magical Creatures, and The Magical Sound Alphabet.

On top of that, Eda was planning to buy A Dictionary of Ancient Runes and A Compendium of Magical Symbols.

Fred suddenly clapped Eda on the shoulder, motioning for her to look at Percy.

"Ow! Hmm?"

 Eda glanced across the table to see Percy gazing lovingly at his right hand, a dreamy, dazed smile spreading across his face as though his hand possessed some kind of magical allure.

"A prefect! We have another prefect in the family!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, gazing at Percy's right hand. "Percy, is there anything you'd like as a gift?"

From Bill to Charlie, and now from Charlie to Percy — every Weasley boy had received a prefect badge upon reaching their fifth year. In another two years, it would be Fred and George's turn. However...

Eda turned her head to look at the twins.

As if sensing her gaze, the twins simultaneously turned to face her, four identical eyes staring back.

"We would never do something like that," Fred whispered.

"We'd never let that thing tarnish us," George added in a low voice.

Fortunately, Mrs. Weasley was too busy excitedly discussing gift options with Percy to notice the twins' dangerous remarks. Otherwise, it was doubtful they'd live to see the next sunrise.

"Mom, I'd like to get a new pet. Scabbers is too old. How about an owl?" Percy suggested. He truly disliked Scabbers, that smelly old rat. And the thought of facing off against Eda's puppy Garlon to protect Scabbers did not align with his prestigious status as a prefect.

Before Mrs. Weasley could respond, George interjected, "Mom, Ron's starting school this year too. He needs to buy a lot more things."

Hearing George's words, Ron looked up, his eyes filled with hopeful anticipation. He had been staring glumly at his long shopping list, knowing that most of the items would be secondhand. But if there was even the slightest chance for something new, who wouldn't prefer that?

"Maybe I.."

Eda was just about to raise her hand and offer her own money, but under Mrs. Weasley's stern glare, she quickly lowered it. Mrs. Weasley would never accept a single Knut from Eda. They hadn't taken her in for money — they genuinely liked the considerate girl.

"Let's finish breakfast, children," said Mr. Weasley, the head of the family. "We'll find a way."

What other way could there be? Most likely, Ron would end up with Bill's old robes, textbooks that Fred, George, or Eda had used, and perhaps even Charlie's old wand. That battered wand had lost most of its polish, and the unicorn hair core was visibly exposed. Eda seriously doubted whether it could still cast spells.

After breakfast, Eda and the twins grabbed buckets and headed to the small river outside the village. They didn't continue discussing the situation at the table, instead shifting their focus to the latest issue of the Daily Prophet.

"Woah! Who would be bold enough to rob Gringotts?" Fred exclaimed, clearly more impressed than concerned. The sheer audacity of the act fascinated him.

News of the break-in at Gringotts had spread the previous afternoon, while Eda was still at the Leaky Cauldron. According to witnesses, the goblins of Gringotts had failed to capture the thief, who managed to escape with the stolen goods.

Rumors swirled.

Some said the thief had stolen a massive pile of gold from the underground vaults, while others speculated that a priceless magical artifact had been taken.

Regardless of the specifics, people were awed by the thief's success in pulling off what had once been deemed impossible — robbing Gringotts and getting away with it.

The goblins, however, insisted that although there had indeed been a break-in, the thief had stolen nothing. The Daily Prophet echoed their claims.

"Whether he stole anything or not, the fact that he managed to get in and out means this thief is no ordinary person, truly wicked!" George said as he rolled up his trousers and waded into the river, ready to catch some fish.

Sitting on a rock by the riverside, Eda rolled up her trousers and said, "I hope that thief is some kind of vigilante, robbing the rich to help the poor. Imagine waking up tomorrow to find a big bag of gold at the foot of my bed. If that happened, I'd pray for him every day."

"Wake up, stop dreaming! It's not even nighttime yet!" Fred and George shouted in unison as they splashed water at Eda, sending cold droplets flying onto her.

Not one to back down, Eda quickly waded into the river to fight back. What started as a two-against-one skirmish soon escalated into a chaotic three-way water fight. It wasn't until all three of them were thoroughly soaked that they finally called a truce.

They wandered further upstream, looking for a new spot to catch fish. Eda was great at pretending to "slack off" when it came to work, but when it came to literal fishing, she wasn't quite as skilled. If it were up to her, she would have much preferred to aim a blasting curse at the water — quick, efficient, and undeniably effective.

"To be honest, I'm a little suspicious of Quirrell," Eda said, bending down as she tried in vain to catch a fish. No matter how swiftly she reached out, the slippery creatures darted away before she could even get close. "He was at the Leaky Cauldron the same day the Gringotts break-in happened. And with how strange he's been acting, it's hard not to be suspicious."

Eda had already shared her thoughts about Quirrell with the twins. She believed that his timid demeanor was nothing more than an act, meant to mislead others. There had to be something more going on!

"It is a big coincidence, but maybe it's too much of a coincidence," Fred remarked, just as unsuccessful with his own attempts at fishing. "The moment he goes to Diagon Alley, Gringotts gets hit? That's a bit too convenient."

"If it really was him," George added, holding a fishing net and carefully selecting a spot to cast it, "then you can forget about your vigilante thief. Quirrell doesn't exactly seem like the self-sacrificing, noble type."

Quirrell's cowardly nature certainly didn't fit the profile of someone capable of pulling off such a daring heist. But then again, it was strange enough that a man supposedly terrified of vampires and other dark creatures had the nerve to apply for the Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching position. No matter how Eda looked at it, something about Quirrell just didn't add up.

"When school starts, we can use the Marauder's Map to keep an eye on Quirrell," George suggested. "Just like we did in our first year." 

"Agreed! Professor or not, once school starts, we'll make sure Quirrell's every move is accounted for," Fred declared, slapping the water in frustration. The fish were particularly cunning today, and despite his efforts, he hadn't caught a single one. 

With their buckets empty, the three returned to the Burrow.

As they entered the house, they were surprised to see Dumbledore sitting comfortably on the living room sofa, entertaining Ginny and Ron with one of his stories. Mrs. Weasley could be heard bustling about in the kitchen, preparing lunch. 

"Professor, what brings you to the Burrow?" Eda asked, her curiosity piqued. 

"An old friend of mine happens to be free today," Dumbledore replied with a twinkle in his eye. "I thought it would be a good opportunity for you to meet him. But there's no rush — we can go after lunch." 

The kitchen soon filled with the lively chatter of the Weasley family. Mrs. Weasley, Ron, and Percy were visibly nervous, taking Dumbledore's visit quite seriously. The twins, however, remained unfazed, cracking jokes that had even the headmaster chuckling heartily. 

Eda and Ginny stayed quiet, calmly eating their meals. Neither of them felt intimidated by Dumbledore's presence. Eda wasn't even particularly curious about who she was going to meet — she figured she'd find out soon enough. 

"I've often heard Eda praise your cooking, and now I finally get to taste it for myself," Dumbledore said warmly, "She was right. It's every bit as wonderful as she claimed. Don't you agree, Eda?" 

Mrs. Weasley beamed at the compliment, nervously rubbing her hands on her apron. "I'm so glad you like it, Professor. These children must cause you quite a bit of trouble at school." 

"Hahaha~ Not at all. I'm rather fond of them," Dumbledore assured her. "Every Weasley child has their own unique charm — that's a testament to both you and Arthur." Then, with a sly smile, he added, "As for Eda, I must say, I'm not quite sure where she picked up her mischievous streak. You've certainly had your hands full, Molly."

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