Vincent left with Hermione, without the slightest hesitation.
Sirius Black lifted his chin slightly. "Remus, I won. I told you they wouldn't join the Order of the Phoenix so easily."
Lupin shook his head. "I never expected them to join. You were the one who dragged me into that bet."
"Was I?" Sirius Black gently patted his shoulder. "Never mind that for now. We need to clean this place up quickly. Until tonight's operation is over, we absolutely cannot let anyone discover what happened here."
For safety reasons, the Order of the Phoenix decided to keep the matter of Goblins Hall under wraps for now.
The Ministry of Magic could not yet be cleared of suspicion entirely. If someone within really had been replaced by the Death Eaters, the matter of Goblins Hall would certainly affect tonight's operation.
Hogwarts Castle, It was already past ten at night when Vincent and Hermione returned.
The two entered the common room, where Harry was alone on the ring, pounding a punching bag.
Perhaps because he was the only one attacked by the merpeople, he was working harder than usual. The eighty-pound punching bag swayed continuously beneath his blows.
They did not disturb him, instead finding a quiet corner to continue thinking things over.
They had only just sat down when the twins came over with their latest invention.
"Ta-da-da-da—our great automatic quill has finally been invented!"
"Oh."
Fred picked up the quill and waved it vigorously in front of them. "Come on, your combined guest appearances don't even add up to half an hour. Do you really need to start brooding the moment you get back?"
"No." Hermione held down his constantly waving hand. "We were thinking about something else."
George laughed carelessly. "No way. There are actually things in this