Chapter 607: The Burrow
Chapter 607: The Burrow
As soon as Liam stepped into The Burrow, Mrs. Weasley enveloped him in a tight hug. "Thank heavens you're back safely. Alastor has already told us what happened. If you hadn't lured most of the Death Eaters and the Dark Lord away, I doubt we would have made it here so safely. But please, don't take such risks again. We haven't reached a point where we need to put a child in the front line."
"It's fine, Mrs. Weasley. Everyone was risking their lives today; I couldn't be an exception. Besides, I'm back safe and sound", Liam reassured her as she released him.
The Great Hall was already crowded with people, some even standing on the side with their cups in hand. Liam immediately spotted Mad-Eye Moody standing by a flower pot, raising his flask in a silent salute to him.
"Bro, you were incredibly brave this time. When we heard you and Hermione weren't coming, we were a bit surprised. But to pull off something like this! By the way, Mad-Eye Moody mentioned that you and the Dark Lord can both fly. How did you manage that?" Ron walked up, patting Liam on the shoulder with excitement. Harry, standing beside him, also looked curious.
"That's something I naturally mastered after my Alchemy reached a certain level", Liam explained, noticing Ron's eagerness to ask more. He quickly changed the subject to avoid any questions about the color of his wings. "Harry, I'm really sorry that all your luggage and broomstick were destroyed by the Dark Lord. There were just too many and too powerful attackers at the time."
"Don't worry about it. As long as you're back safe, I can always buy new stuff", Harry smiled. "I think it was a fair trade to lose some Galleons to ensure everyone's safe return."
"Absolutely", Ron, who was usually sensitive about money, nodded in agreement. The group then joined the casual conversations around the table.
"By the way, there's something I'm curious about", Sirius Black said after a few minutes. "You mentioned being ambushed as soon as you set out. This can only mean Voldemort knew the exact time we were leaving. Can anyone explain why?"
"Someone must have tipped him off", Mad-Eye Moody stepped forward, voicing what everyone was thinking. "Of course, I trust no one here would do such a thing. The informant is likely from the Ministry of Magic. Our plan wasn't just known by those in this room; we had to coordinate with the Ministry for the Portkey and security. They could easily deduce our approximate departure time. Besides, the Dark Lord isn't known for being considerate to his followers. It's normal for him to order Death Eaters to lie in wait for a few nights."
"But how do you explain why you and Liam were specifically targeted from the start, and the Dark Lord himself came after you?" Percy put down his glass, frowning. "We didn't mention the decoy plan to anyone at the Ministry, yet the Dark Lord and most of the Death Eaters found the real target right away. If not for Liam's last-minute plan to switch, the Dark Lord might have succeeded."
"Percy, I trust no one in the Order of the Phoenix would betray us, especially while Dumbledore is still alive", Liam said, confident in Dumbledore's judgment. "The Death Eaters initially came after me because my protector was Professor Moody, who is the strongest among today's protectors. It's natural they would follow us."
"The Dark Lord didn't start chasing me right away. He only came after confirming it was me. If someone from our side had betrayed us, he would have come immediately, not waited a bit before chasing us."
"What did you do to make the Dark Lord think you were the real Harry?" Lupin asked, puzzled. "How could they be so certain in such a chaotic and dark situation?"
"I think it's because I only used the Disarming Charm during the fight", Liam explained. "Among us, Harry is probably the only one who would use the Disarming Charm at a time like this. The Death Eaters are well aware of this."
"Is that true, Harry?" Sirius Black turned to Harry after hearing Liam's words. "Do you really prioritize using the Disarming Charm in battles?"
"Not always", Harry thought for a moment before responding, "But in a situation like tonight, I would most likely use only the Disarming Charm."
Seeing everyone at the table staring at him in shock, Harry quickly explained, "I remember someone telling me that Voldemort often uses the Imperius Curse on many cannon fodder. In a situation where everyone is under a curse, I don't want to harm innocent people."
"Harry, the era of the Disarming Charm is over! These people want to capture you, kill you! Even if you don't want to kill, you should at least use the Stunning Spell in similar situations!" Lupin said, his face a mask of disbelief.
"That's hundreds of meters up in the air. A wizard under the Imperius Curse can't control themselves. If I stun these innocents, they'll fall and die just as surely as if I had used the Killing Curse!" Harry stubbornly stated his view. "And I believe that even if I were in that situation, I would find a way to survive."
"Harry, don't be stubborn", Liam advised, "When I was mimicking you, it was a close call. If I couldn't fly, you'd probably be mourning me right now. Given your skills, I don't think you would fare any better."
"So what do you think I should do? Kill someone controlled by Voldemort?" Harry looked angry.
"Of course not", Sirius Black shook his head, "But Death Eaters—frankly, most people see the Disarming Charm as your signature move. I admit it's a good spell, but I strongly urge you to change your habits in such situations. Today, Liam managed to escape Voldemort because of his strength, but what if it were someone else? At the very least, without Liam's direct confrontation with Voldemort, it would have been hard for Mad-Eye Moody and the others to survive this mission."
"But I can't bring myself to harm innocent people for my own sake", Harry slowly shook his head after a moment of thought. "If I did that, how would I be any different from Voldemort?"
Everyone was speechless at his words, but Hermione stood up, her face flushed with anger. "Harry, don't forget that Britain is in a state of war. In war, some collateral damage is unavoidable. For example, when Liam fought earlier, he killed several Death Eaters at once. Some of them might have been wizards under the Imperius Curse. Do you think Liam is no different from Voldemort?"
"That's not what I meant", Harry shook his head, trying to explain. He really didn't mean what Hermione was implying, especially today, when Liam had risked his life to do what Harry should have done. Harry's character wouldn't allow him to turn around and criticize Liam now.
"Hermione", Liam quickly interjected, trying to smooth things over. "I think Harry is just talking about his own principles, not criticizing anyone else."
"Yes", Harry nodded vigorously. "This is just a personal standard I set for myself. I know it might seem overly idealistic when facing enemies, but there are some things I just can't do."
"Alright, I respect your personal views. As long as it doesn't harm others, I believe everyone can accept different perspectives", Hermione's tone softened.
Harry let out a long breath of relief. When Hermione was staring at him, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, as if he were being watched by a highly aggressive predator.
"Alright, let's celebrate. There's a lot to be grateful for today", Mr. Weasley raised his glass, filled with a full cup of Firewhisky.
"To a smooth future", everyone raised their glasses in unison.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
