Participation

Rita thought Lovegood was utterly unreasonable.

His brain was full of mush!

How could anyone be so obsessed with children's fairy tales—to the point of actually believing in them?

"At least he won't stop you from publishing any articles," Harry said, glancing back.

Mr. Lovegood walked with his back straight, strutting with exaggerated confidence.

Harry sighed. He had been wrong.

He was nothing like Dumbledore.

Dumbledore only seemed eccentric at times—perhaps a little mad—but he had intelligence and capability.

This man, however, was simply mad.

"But working alongside him means I have to listen to him," Rita clenched her fists, even mustering the courage to express a different opinion to Harry.

"He doesn't seem very smart," Harry interrupted her. "Though his daughter seems sharp, she's still young."

"The things he wants—I'll talk to Hagrid after school starts. Hagrid might be interested."

"You just focus on our matters," Harry added.

Rita muttered under her breath but reluctantly agreed.

"Oh, and one more thing," Harry continued. "Ms. Skeeter, you've got another task."

Rita took a step back, her voice trembling. "A-another task?"

"Do you know Ragnok?" Harry asked.

Rita nodded. "Of course. The leader of the rebel goblins—an ambitious old fool with forging skills but nothing else."

"He's disappeared," Harry nodded. "Find him."

"A goblin?" Rita scoffed.

Harry didn't respond. Instead, he tapped his robe, causing a dull, heavy thud to echo as it struck the armor underneath.

Rita suddenly understood.

She had forgotten—this Mr. Potter was skilled in both close combat and magic.

"So, should I prioritize finding him first?" Rita hesitantly asked. "And put that other matter on hold?"

Goblins were safe.

Harry shook his head. "It's not a conflict. We suspect Ragnok might be with them. If you find him, you'll find them."

Rita's face turned slightly green.

Goblins were safe—but not when they were mixed up with Death Eaters!

"M-Mr. Potter, I…" Rita's voice was filled with fear.

Harry didn't say anything. He simply pulled a small vial from his pocket and handed it to her.

"What is this?" Rita examined the potion. It was an inky black liquid, yet clear and pristine, like a black gemstone.

"Professor Snape's creation," Harry explained. "Drinking it allows you to turn your body into liquid—an escape mechanism, in case you get captured by Death Eaters again."

Rita sniffled.

Mr. Potter was so thoughtful—he had already anticipated her getting captured again!

Carefully, she stored the potion, then tried to use her small stature and exaggerated makeup to appear pitiful—hoping to coax another vial out of Harry.

"I don't think you'll be captured again," Harry gently refused. "Escaping, failing to ask for help, and then stupidly walking into danger—that sounds like something you'd do."

He wasn't lying.

Snape hadn't shared the potion's formula yet, and Harry didn't have many vials.

Rita sighed.

Why were there so many capable people in the Order of the Phoenix, yet such a heavy burden always fell on her, a poor, weak little beetle?

Back at Grimmauld Place, Rita sprawled weakly on the couch in the living room.

Ron, George, and Fred were debating who the next Defense Against the Dark Arts professor would be.

Sirius, nearby, was lavishly praising the new professor, emphasizing how well they had chosen the required textbooks. He was convinced this new professor would be excellent for both fifth- and seventh-year students.

George and Fred, however, were skeptical.

Even an elite Auror like Moody hadn't been better than Professor Lupin. Could this mysterious new professor really surpass him?

Ron practically worshipped Lupin, enthusiastically downplaying the unknown new professor.

"Ron's going to have a rough start to the school year," Hermione said emotionlessly.

"You noticed too?" Harry asked.

Hermione nodded. "Sirius doesn't care much for strangers. If he's this enthusiastic, it must be because Dumbledore invited the professor personally."

"But why him?"

"There's probably no one else available," Harry speculated. "The Ministry recalled Moody, and anyone else willing to take the job has probably been pressured by them."

"So only Sirius was left."

"But that's a good thing."

"At least I won't have to worry about him running around and getting into danger when I'm not home."

Hermione nodded.

July was coming to an end.

On his birthday, the Order of the Phoenix threw Harry a grand party. Snape didn't attend, but he did send a gift—his notes and insights from brewing Witcher potions.

A gift from a true Potions Master.

Dumbledore gave both Harry and Hermione matching bracelets, each imbued with two magical enchantments.

Hermione gave Harry a pendant, replacing the one Bill had given him earlier. It was finely crafted, made of pure silver with ruby inlays. The front featured a vividly detailed griffin, while the back had Harry's name engraved.

Harry loved it.

Though if it had a wolf's head instead, it would've been perfect—he had just mastered his white wolf Animagus form. This would have been a perfect way to prove his Wolf School Witcher identity!

Oh well.

Without hesitation, he swapped out his old amulet for the griffin pendant.

The other gifts were fairly standard.

The biggest surprise came from Neville—a steel sword, simple and more decorative than practical, along with a letter requesting to meet on the Hogwarts Express.

It didn't affect the feast, though.

They drank and sang.

Tonks, stumbling around, yanked down the moldy curtain in the hallway, waking Walburga Black's portrait. For the rest of the party, the house was filled with her shrill, furious shrieking.

Tonks was extremely apologetic—it was the thirteenth time she had done this.

Sirius, however, was just growing more determined to remove the portrait. Unfortunately, the Permanent Sticking Charm made that impossible.

Even with all his effort, he couldn't tear it down.

He had asked Dumbledore and Harry for help, but they both refused.

After all, that was Sirius's mother. It wasn't their place to intervene.

Time ticked forward.

Another full moon was approaching.

"I need everyone to clear out tomorrow," Harry requested over dinner.

"Remus is staying here?" Arthur Weasley was surprised.

Harry nodded. "Yeah."

"I'll stay in my room," Hermione immediately said. "Going back home would be too much trouble."

"We'll hide too," George and Fred added, swallowing their food. "Besides, we still haven't shown Harry our latest weapon. We've been tweaking some numbers."

"Math is a nightmare."

"But we're almost done, just need one last test."

Arthur frowned. "Not until Harry, Dumbledore, and I are present. You're not testing it recklessly."

"Harry said to wait until we're back at Hogwarts," George sighed. "More space there."

Arthur looked alarmed.

"The Black Lake," Harry reminded him. Hogwarts had more than just the castle—there was plenty of open ground.

Arthur sighed in relief.

"Molly and I will take Ginny home for a visit, then," he said. "It's been a while since we've been to the Burrow."

"What about you, Miss Tonks?" Harry turned to her—the only one at the table who hadn't spoken.

"I?" Tonks looked up. "Of course I'm staying. Hermione still needs me to teach her…"

"Some Auror training techniques!" Hermione interrupted in a panic, covering the real reason.

Tonks blinked.

Wasn't it supposed to be beauty magic?

When did it turn into Auror training?

Harry nodded, and they continued eating.

"Will Remus be dangerous tomorrow?" Tonks suddenly asked.

Lupin stiffened, adopting a professor-like tone. "Miss Tonks, as an Auror, you should understand that werewolves are extremely dangerous. When transformed, we lose our rationality."

"But he's been drinking Wolfsbane all week," Tonks countered.

Lupin remained stern. "It helps me retain some rationality—not all."

"Even the Ministry advises werewolves to stay away from people during the full moon, even with Wolfsbane."

Tonks nodded blankly, stabbing her steak with a fork. After a while, she looked up.

"I heard Harry and Sirius are trying to break the werewolf curse."

"I'm a mature Auror. Can I help?"

Lupin immediately refused. "No. It's too dangero—"

"Of course you can," Harry interrupted, overriding Lupin. "Sirius and I would be glad to have a reliable ally."

Sirius hesitated.

Tonks had always been reckless.

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Powerstones?

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