Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures Chapter 443: Dinner and Performance

“A report for the Department of International Magical Cooperation.” Percy said smugly, “We're trying to standardize cauldron thickness. Some of these foreign imports are just a shade too thin. Leakages have been increasing at a rate of almost three percent a year…”

“It's amazing! This report will change the world.” Ron said sarcastically. “Think about it, the Daily Prophet will publish on the front page: cauldron leaks.”

When he heard him, Percy went slightly pink.

“You might sneer, Ron,” he said heatedly, “but unless some sort of international law is imposed, we might well find the market flooded with flimsy, shallow-bottomed products that seriously endanger …”

“Yeah, all right,” said Ron impatiently, and he started off upstairs again.

Behind them, Percy slammed his bedroom door shut.

Like everyone else, Evan had little interest in Percy's report on “cauldron leaks”.

He was thinking, maybe he could hear from Percy about the status of his boss, Mr. Barty Crouch.

Evan didn't expect Percy to notice anything unusual, but it would be enough if he could quickly grasp some clues.

If Voldemort wanted to save his most heartfelt servant, then Barty Crouch was a pass that could not be circumvented.

But considering Percy's character, Evan doubted that he would help him.

Now he probably would like Crouch to give him all the power to prove his ability.

Behind Ron, Evan climbed up three more flights of stairs and could still hear the shouts from the kitchen below.

The voices were loud, and it sounded as though Mr. Weasley had told his wife about the deforming sweets.

These voices dragged Evan's thoughts back to reality, leaving aside Voldemort and Barty Crouch Jr.

It was a serious matter to calm the angry Hermione.

Pushing the door and entering, Ron's room seemed no different from before.

The same posters of Ron's favorite Quidditch team, the Chudley Cannons, were whirling and waving on the walls and sloping ceiling.

There was still the fish tank on the windowsill, which had previously held frog spawn, but now it contained one extremely large frog.

Ron's old rat, Scabbers, was here no more, but instead there was the tiny gray owl that Sirius had given him.

It was hopping up and down in a small cage and hooting madly.

“Shut up, pig!” said Ron, edging his way between two of the five beds that had been squeezed into the room.

“Fred and George are in here with us, because Bill and Charlie are in their room!” he said to Evan and Harry. “Percy gets to keep his room all to himself because he's got to work.”

“Percy's enjoying work, then?” Harry sat down on a bed.

He raised his head and watched the Chudley Cannons zooming in and out of the posters on the ceiling.

“Enjoying it?!” said Ron darkly. “I don't reckon he'd come home if Dad didn't make him. He's obsessed. Just don't get him onto the subject of his boss. According to Mr. Crouch … as I was saying to Mr. Crouch … Mr. Crouch is of the opinion … Mr. Crouch was telling me … They'll be announcing their engagement any day now.”

“Stop talking about Percy, Evan, how was your vacation?” Ginny asked. “Your sudden disappearance at the end of last semester worried me. The school was full of rumors about your serious injuries.”

“Don't worry, I'm fine right now…”

“Speaking of this, all three of us were being driven crazy!” Ron added. “After you and Sirius left, we all knew that you were at risk, and we took turns asking for information about it!”

Evan knew that Ron wanted to find out about his experience during the summer vacation and whether he got the half of the Philosopher's Stone.

However, it was obviously unwise to talk about these things in front of Ginny.

Whether it was the Philosopher's Stone left by Gryffindor, the fallen Centaurs, Voldemort or the evil god, it was not suitable for others to know.

Evan must keep it secret. He didn't even say anything to Harry, but told Hermione everything.

“You know, I went to France during the holidays. Dumbledore took us to Beauxbatons Academy of Magic to find his old friend Nicolas Flamel. He helped me solve all the problems.” Evan said briefly.

Then, he began to tell Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny about his experiences in France.

“This is really good, I want to go to Beauxbatons to have a look!” said Ron enviously. “This is an unforgettable adventure. The location of all magic schools is confidential. It is difficult for outsiders to have opportunity to enter.”

“As long as I'm not with Muggles, I can go anywhere!” Harry sighed and continued. “Before the World Cup, I want to see Sirius, and I don't know how he's doing now.”

“My dad said we would go to see him tomorrow.” Ron said, as if he had remembered something, “By the way, Evan, the magic left by Gryffindor…”

“I think they've stopped arguing.” Hermione suddenly stood up.

She saw Ginny looking curiously from Ron to Evan.

Apparently, she thought about what Ron said, what Gryffindor left behind!

To cover the awkward moment, Hermione hurriedly said, “Shall we go down and help your mum with dinner?”

“All right.” Ginny nodded.

The five people left the room in turn, and Evan deliberately stayed at the back, and he gently pulled Hermione.

“Hermione, I want to talk to you…” Evan looked at Hermione's eyes, “…about Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes!”

Hermione stared at Evan for a moment, and as Evan did not flinch, she looked down embarrassingly.

“We really need to talk about the use of the newspaper's income, and your assistance to Fred and George's research.” Hermione tried to say in an ordinary tone, “Whatever you have to say, keep it for tonight, I want to see your performance before considering whether to forgive you!”

Evan was stunned, not sure what Hermione meant.

Hermione was now obviously angry. How should he behave to satisfy her?!

When they all went back downstairs, they found that Mrs. Weasley was alone in the kitchen, looking extremely bad-tempered.

She glanced at Evan and was still annoyed by the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.

“Okay, we're eating out in the garden!” she said. “There's just not room for twelve people in here. Girls, you can help me? You three, take these plates, knives and forks.”

Chapter end