https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-589-A-Warning-Letter-from-the-Ministry/12538929/
Chapter 588: A United Front for the Weasley's
Chapter 588: A United Front for the Weasley's
"Then, cheers to our collaboration."
Inside the Leaky Cauldron, Kyle watched as Rita Skeeter stood up to leave, and said with a smile.
"I just felt like taking a break from writing and having a butterbeer. It's not like we're collaborating on anything." Rita snapped her handbag shut and corrected him, "And we just happened to share a table and chat about the Triwizard Tournament. I didn't say anything else, and I'm not admitting to anything."
"Ah, of course, that's right," Kyle chuckled.
As Rita Skeeter turned to walk towards the pub's door, her face suddenly relaxed as if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders. Now that the Animagus photo was in Kyle's hands, she no longer had to live in fear. The only concern now was whether Kyle would keep his word and not reveal her secret.
However, Rita believed he would. After all, she had just paid him—that extra bit of information was payment enough. Normally, fifty galleons wouldn't be enough to buy that name and all the evidence of Umbridge taking credit for another's work.
She was sure Kyle understood this as well.
The thought excited Rita Skeeter. She began to wonder what Kyle would do… or rather, what Dumbledore was planning. She didn't believe for a second that Kyle's curiosity about Fudge's secret was the only reason for his interest. From their conversation, it was clear that Kyle sided firmly with Dumbledore.
There was no doubt that they were planning something unexpected. But what could it be…
The struggle between a Hogwarts headmaster, the most powerful white wizard, and a Minister of Magic was bound to be fascinating. Just thinking about it made Rita's heart race. She desperately wanted to know more, but there was nothing she could do.
Now that Kyle knew she was an Animagus, she couldn't very well transform into a beetle and eavesdrop. She would have to wait.
As Rita Skeeter reached for the door, Kyle's voice stopped her. "Wait."
She paused, her hand frozen in mid-air.
Turning around, she said, "If you want more information, it'll cost you."
"No, I just wanted to ask," Kyle said, "If there's concrete evidence that he's really back, would you report it?"
"Why are you so obsessed with this?" Rita clearly didn't want to discuss the topic, so she tried to brush him off. "Fine, if it's true, then someone's in big trouble… Of course, I wouldn't miss the chance to record such a historic event in the wizarding world."
Without giving Kyle a chance to respond, Rita Skeeter pushed open the door and left the Leaky Cauldron.
After she left, Kyle finished the last sip of his butterbeer and stepped back into the fireplace of the Leaky Cauldron, returning to his humble home.
"Fred, George, could you two keep it down?" As soon as Kyle emerged from the fireplace, he heard Percy's frustrated roar. "I can't concentrate on my report with all the noise! This is important stuff that the Ministry actually cares about!"
"Percy, what we're doing is important too," Fred argued.
"We have to test the stability of our products. People have paid us for them!" George added.
"As if you…"
"Do you really think the Minister reads what you write?"
"I bet it ends up in the bin…"
"…and then gets thrown out…"
"…because no one cares about the shape of herb pots as long as they work!" Fred and George finished each other's sentences, unabashedly rebuking Percy. With Mrs. Weasley absent, they weren't about to let Percy boss them around. As for Percy's potential snitching later that night, they didn't care. They were used to it by now.
Fred happened to come downstairs at that moment.
"Just now," Kyle replied, glancing at the frenzied bird. "What is that...?"
"It might be Ron." George also came down the stairs. "I bet he sneaked some of the cookies we left on the plate."
As if to confirm their suspicions, there was a loud bang, and the bird erupted in a cloud of white smoke, transforming into Ron's form.
"You..." Ron gritted his teeth. "What did you put on that plate?!"
"Improved Canary Cookies," Fred chuckled. "They turn whoever eats them into a canary."
"Looks like it worked pretty well," George added.
"You did this on purpose!" Ron glared at them angrily.
"Nonsense," Fred grinned. "We just forgot to take them back."
"Did you try flying while you were at it?" George inquired. "I think it should be possible."
"Could that thing really fly?" Ron paused, realizing that in his panic, he hadn't paid attention to anything else.
Even Kyle was surprised.
He recalled that the Canary Cookies were one of Fred and George's earlier creations, but back then, they could only change one's appearance, and no amount of flapping would get them off the ground.
Ron seemed to have an idea, and his anger momentarily forgotten, he asked, "Do you have more of those cookies? I want to try again."
"Of course," Fred winked. "Twelve Sickles for ten..."
"Plus the one you just ate..."
"...makes it two Galleons from you," they finished in unison.
Ron thought he must have misheard them. "You're charging me? And how did it become two Galleons?!"
"Oops, sorry, we miscalculated," George quickly interjected. "It should be three Galleons!"
Ron was immediately outraged, and the three of them started bickering noisily in the living room.
Then Percy came downstairs and began scolding them, which caused the bickering trio to immediately unite against him.
As for Kyle, he sat beside Ginny, enjoying the show.
It was quite a rare sight to see the three of them form a united front so quickly, and it was a first for Kyle.
"Percy doesn't believe in Dumbledore."
Seeming to notice Kyle's confusion, Ginny explained, "He's chosen to side with the Ministry, thinking that Dumbledore's remarks before the break were crazy, and that we should distance ourselves from him... He even had a big argument with Mum a few days ago."
"I see..." Kyle nodded. Now he understood why the three of them had put aside their differences so quickly.
In a way, it was a case of presenting a united front to the outside world.
"Would you like some candy?" Kyle offered Ginny a handful of sweets. "Don't worry, they're not Fred and George's Skiving Snackboxes."
"Thanks." Ginny picked a toffee and popped it into her mouth.
Just then, the hand on the Weasley family's magical clock twitched.
Kyle looked up instinctively. It was Mr. Weasley's hand, which had just jumped from "Work" to "Home."
The next second, the front door banged open, and Mr. Weasley walked in.
Fred refrained from continuing his teasing of Percy. He glanced at his father and then out the window.
"Dad? Did you finish work early today?"
"Oh no, I came back early." Mr. Weasley shook his head. He turned to Kyle. "Have you received the letter?"
"Letter? What letter?" Kyle asked, just as an owl flew in through the window.
...
(End of Chapter)
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