The Weasleys Stand United

"Then, it's a pleasure to cooperate."

Inside the Leaky Cauldron, Kyle looked at Rita Skeeter, who was getting up to leave, and said...

"I was just feeling a bit tired from writing, so I came for a Butterbeer. There's nothing to discuss."

Rita Skeeter closed her handbag and corrected, "Besides, we just happened to sit at the same table and chatted for a bit about the Triwizard Tournament. I didn't say anything else, and I won't admit it anyway."

"Ah, that's right," Kyle said with a smile.

Rita Skeeter then walked towards the bar's door, and in the instant she turned around, a look of relief suddenly appeared on her face.

Now that she has the Animagus photo, she can finally stop living in fear.

The only concern is whether Kyle will keep his promise and not tell anyone about it.

However, Rita Skeeter thought it unlikely, since she had already paid the extra information.

Normally, fifty Galleon wouldn't be enough to buy that name, nor all the evidence of Deputy Minister Umbridge claiming credit for others' work.

She believed Kyle understood this as well.

Thinking about this, Rita Skeeter suddenly became excited again.

She began to anticipate what Kyle would do... or rather, what Dumbledore was planning to do.

She didn't believe Kyle was just curious and wanted to find out Fudge's secrets... It was clear from their conversation that Kyle was firmly on Dumbledore's side.

They'll definitely do something unexpected after that.

But what could it be...?

A Hogwarts Headmaster, the most powerful white wizard, and a Minister for Magic —their struggle is sure to be exciting.

Rita Skeeter felt a pang of unease whenever she thought about it; she desperately wanted to know, but there was nothing she could do about it.

Kyle already knew she was an Animagus, so he couldn't transform into a beetle to gather information anymore; he could only wait.

Rita Skeeter walked to the door and was about to push it open when Kyle's voice suddenly came from behind her.

"Wait a mininute."

Her hand remained frozen in place.

"If you want to know anything else, you'll have to pay extra," Rita Skeeter said, turning around.

"No, I just wanted to ask," Kyle said, "If there's concrete evidence that the man has really returned, would you report it?"

"...It's this again?" Rita Skeeter clearly didn't want to discuss this topic, so she said dismissively, "Well, if it's true, then someone is doomed... Of course, I can't miss such a momentous event that will be recorded in the History of Magic."

After saying that, Rita Skeeter didn't give Kyle a chance to speak again, and simply pushed open the door and walked out of the Leaky Cauldron.

After she left, Kyle finished his last sip of Butterbeer, then used the bar's fireplace to return to the Burrow.

"Fred, George, can you two please be quiet!"

Kyle had just stepped out from behind the fireplace when he heard Percy's annoyed roar, "I'm so disturbed I can't write my report! This is serious business, the department takes it very seriously!"

"Percy, we're doing something serious."

"We need to test the product's stability; they paid for it!"

"But it's you..."

"Are you sure our minister will read what you wrote...?"

"I bet it'll end up in the trash can..."

"Then it was poured out..."

"Because nobody cares whether the herb pots are the right shape, as long as they grow well enough!"

Fred and George chimed in, saying that since Mrs. Weasley wasn't home today, they wouldn't tolerate Percy and directly retorted.

As for whether Percy would tell on them that night... he definitely would, but the two of them didn't care, after all, they were already used to it.

When Kyle arrived in the living room, he saw a large bird with colorful feathers flapping its wings frantically.

"Kyle, when did you get back?"

Just then, Fred came downstairs.

"Just now," Kyle said, glancing at the frenzied bird, "What was this...?"

"It might be Ron," George said, coming down from the table. "I bet he stole the cookies we put on the plate."

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a loud bang, a puff of white smoke came out of the bird, and then it turned into Ron's appearance.

"You..." he said through gritted teeth, "What exactly did you put on the plate?"

"An improved Canary Creams," Fred said with a laugh, "That can turn whoever eats it into a canary."

"It seems to be working quite well so far."

"You did this on purpose!" Ron glared at them angrily.

"Don't talk nonsense," Fred said with a grin. "We just forgot to take it back."

"Didn't you try to see if you could fly?" George asked. "I think you could."

"That thing could really fly?" Ron was stunned. He had been so scared that he hadn't noticed anything else.

Even Kyle was somewhat surprised.

He remembered that this Canary Creams was a product that Fred and George had made a long time ago, but back then they could only change its appearance; even if they flapped its wings until they cramped up, it still couldn't fly.

Ron seemed to have thought of something, and forgetting his anger, asked, "Are there any more of those cookies? I can try again."

"Of course." Fred blinked. "Twelve Sickle a piece..."

"Including the piece you just ate..."

"Just give us two Galleon."

Ron thought he had misheard and couldn't help but ask, "You're still taking my money? And why is it only two Galleon?"

"Oh, sorry, we miscalculated," George quickly said. "It should be three Galleon!"

Ron immediately objected, and the three of them started arguing and making a ruckus in the living room.

Then Percy came down and started berating them, which immediately made the three who were arguing stop and stand aside.

As for Kyle, he and Ginny were sitting nearby watching the show.

This three-on-one situation is quite rare even within the Weasley family, and it's the first time Kyle has seen them unite so quickly.

Percy doesn't believe in Headmaster Dumbledore.

Seemingly noticing Kyle's confusion, Ginny explained from the side, "He chose to side with the Ministry of Magic, believing that what Headmaster Dumbledore said before the holidays was all nonsense, and that we should distance ourselves from him... He even had a big fight with Mom a few days ago."

"So that's how it is..." Kyle nodded. Now he finally understood why the three of them were able to stop fighting immediately.

In a way, this can be considered a united front against external threats.

"Want some candy?" Kyle grabbed a handful of candy and pushed it in front of Ginny. "Don't worry, it's not Fred and George's Skiving Snackboxes."

"Thank you." Ginny picked up a toffee and put it in her mouth.

At that moment, the hands of the magic clock on the wall suddenly jumped.

Kyle instinctively looked up and saw Mr. Weasley; the pointer representing him had just jumped from "Work" to "Home".

The next second, there was a loud bang on the door, and Weasley walked in from outside.

Fred didn't continue his sarcastic remarks to Percy; he looked at Mr. Weasley, then at the window.

"Dad? Is the Ministry of Magic closing so early today?"

"Oh, no, I came back early." Mr. Weasley shook his head and turned to Kyle. "Did you receive the letter?"

"Faith? What faith?"

Before Kyle could finish speaking, an owl flew in from outside.