The Value of Scabbers

"Any news?"

Lee Jordan spread a generous amount of jam over his slice of bread, then turned to Albert, who was flipping through the Daily Prophet, and casually asked.

"Sirius Black has shown up."

Albert set the newspaper on the table and tapped the relevant article with his index finger. "A Muggle spotted him somewhere far from here and called the hotline. Sirius Black had already vanished by the time the Ministry of Magic arrived."

"Somewhere far from here?" George leaned over to read the paper and muttered, "That sounds strange."

"Sirius Black is trying to divert everyone's attention," Albert said, voicing his guess. "Don't forget, with Apparition, any wizard can reach any place in Britain in a short time."

"Can you divine where Sirius Black will appear?" Lee Jordan asked quietly.

"Probably, but catching Sirius Black that way would still be difficult." Albert could certainly catch Black, but this was not the time to do it.

"I hate Divination."

Fred, who was copying his Divination class homework, let out a pained wail.

"Who told you not to spend some time copying that stuff earlier?"

"The guy who doesn't have to do homework should shut up." Fred turned to his twin brother. "Help me stuff his mouth with bread."

"What flavor do you want?" George asked with a grin.

"Orange. Don't put on too much... jam." Albert paused mid-sentence when he noticed an owl flying toward him and dropping an envelope onto the table in front of him.

The others were used to it. Albert received a letter every two days on average.

"Who's it from?"

"Old Thief." Albert glanced at the sender, then traded the letter for George's slice of bread.

"He says he's got the seeds we wanted." George opened the letter and carefully read it, frowning. "But