Can You Keep a Secret?

"I never expected you to help me with anything. It would already be a good thing if you didn't threaten me. I still remember our last conversation vividly—I can still hear that cold voice of yours ringing in my ears. It really sends shivers down my spine."

Sirius was not particularly polite either. After all, Jon had done something like that before, so it was difficult for Sirius to respect him now.

Jon was not angry.

In the eyes of people like Sirius, strength was not all that important. If they had truly feared great power, they would not have fought Voldemort in the first place.

Even now, Sirius had chosen this way to spite Jon, though it did not seem particularly wise.

There was no benefit in spiting Jon, because Jon simply did not care what he did. To Jon, Sirius was merely a chess piece capable of spurring Harry's growth. Even Dumbledore thought this way, though Dumbledore was softer-hearted and unwilling to say such things outright.

After all, words once spoken were often like knives that could not be taken back, stabbing straight into someone's heart.

If he did not truly think it necessary, Jon was willing to put on a hypocritical facade to soothe people's feelings. But Sirius was not worth the effort.

What was there to soothe, anyway?

It was their family's internal affair. They had invited Jon to help, yet they were not responsible for dealing with the problems that came afterward. He was only responsible for resolving the immediate issue.

Besides, everything he was doing now was perfectly reasonable. No matter how one looked at it, none of this could be blamed on him.

"Just think it over yourself. I won't force you. Since you've chosen this path, I'll still alter the plan according