The Floo Network's Destination: The Burrow

Fluffy the three-headed dog's eyes lit up. He flailed his paws, whimpering as he tried to pounce on Wizet.

Hagrid had a bit of brute strength to him. When he realized Fluffy had woken up, he lifted him over his head with ease.

He shouted excitedly, "Fluffy, you're awake! You're so cute, you were born for Mummy to kiss you..."

Wizet wiped sweat from his brow behind him. Only someone with Hagrid's build could single-handedly hoist up a three-headed dog the size of an African lion.

"Have I come at a bad time?"

Just as before, that familiar voice sounded, and Dumbledore appeared before the two of them.

"P-Professor Dumbledore!" Hagrid seemed startled. Like someone hiding a present, he quickly tucked Fluffy behind his back.

Unfortunately, Fluffy was the size of an African lion. Even with Hagrid's body, over three meters tall, he could not hide him.

"A three-headed dog cub. He looks a little thin." Dumbledore wore a smile. "That new den you hammered together at school was for him?"

"Heh heh... heh heh..." Hagrid laughed apologetically, his smile very forced. "Fluffy's still little... I don't want him to keep being dragged around."

"I understand, of course." Dumbledore nodded. "Only, in that case, I'm afraid you won't be able to take the Knight Bus."

"Wizet, would you like to try another way of traveling? There's a more economical option. I've already spoken to Molly."

"More economical?" Wizet remembered he still had not paid the fare from that morning, and hurriedly took out a gold coin, stuffing it into Hagrid's trouser pocket.

Hagrid said urgently, "Wizet, you don't need to do that! You helped me save over two hundred Galleons!"

Wizet waved a hand. "That's different. One thing is one thing."

"Just take it, Hagrid." Dumbledore's smile grew even kinder. "Wizet, let's go! The Floo Network is definitely a fine way to travel!"

The three of them returned to the Leaky Cauldron.

It was still noisy here. The flames in the corner fireplace burned brightly, making the atmosphere in the pub even livelier.

Dumbledore picked up the flowerpot on the mantelpiece. It was filled with powder that shimmered like starlight.

"It's very simple to use. You only need to grab a handful of Floo Powder, throw it into the fireplace, and call out the place you want to go—The Burrow!"

As he spoke, he demonstrated, scattering a handful of Floo Powder.

The flames that touched the Floo Powder instantly surged upward. The bright red fire turned emerald green.

"Wizet, overcome your fear of flames. The fire in the fireplace won't hurt you. Guided by magic, it will take you home."

Listening to Dumbledore's gentle words, Wizet nodded and pushed the small trolley straight into the flames.

"Professor Dumbledore..." Hagrid huddled in the corner with Fluffy. "How are we supposed to get back to school?"

Dumbledore made an inviting gesture. "I've arranged for Thestrals, though they won't arrive that quickly."

Tom appeared at just the right moment, bringing over a large pot of tea and a big sliced cake.

Seeing the cake covered in sweet, cloying cream, Dumbledore's eyebrows relaxed, and he looked delighted. "I'm very interested in the origins of this three-headed dog. Would you tell me about it?"

Hagrid perked up. "Of course! Where do you want to start? How I met Fluffy? It was right here in the Leaky Cauldron..."

"I'd like to know about the process of buying Fluffy." Dumbledore waved a hand. "From what I heard of your conversation just now, it seems Wizet helped you a great deal?"

"Yes! Yes!" Hagrid nodded repeatedly. "If it hadn't been for him, I definitely would've been blackmailed by those people! Here's what happened..."

"Wizet entrusted five hundred Galleons to me. How could I possibly let those people search me? When I saw him show up, I was scared half to death..."

"He was too clever. I hadn't even worked out what had happened, and those people actually sold him for only a hundred and seventy Galleons. What kind of discount was that again..."

He was so excited he waved his hands and feet. Even Fluffy, who had originally fallen into a deep sleep, crawled up again, and when he heard the name "Wizet," he even barked a few times along with it.

A gratified look appeared on Dumbledore's face. "Using everything he saw and heard over the course of an entire day, he easily turned the situation around."

"To think of such a perfect solution in such an urgent situation... To be honest, even I couldn't have done better."

Hagrid nodded over and over in agreement. "That's what I said! If Wizet hadn't come, I really wouldn't have known what to do!"

Dumbledore asked with a smile, "Hagrid, I can tell you like this child very much."

"Fluffy likes him very much too!" Hagrid rubbed Fluffy's head. "But there are still so many people who misunderstand him... It's all those reports' fault!"

"They'll have new things to report very soon." Dumbledore stroked his beard. "In a few days, it will be Harry's birthday. I'll need you to make a trip then."

"Harry?" Hagrid's mouth opened. "Harry Potter? Right! He's reached school age too."

"Of course I can do it! I haven't seen him in ten years! Back then, he was still a tiny little thing, only this big."

"Yes, it's been ten years..." Dumbledore suddenly sighed. "For a long time to come, things may be very busy... The Thestrals have arrived. We should return to school."

Just as Dumbledore had said, the flames did not harm Wizet.

A strange roaring sounded beside his ears. He seemed to be inside a whirlpool, fireplace exits flashing past one after another before his eyes.

A boy's startled cry suddenly came from ahead. "Mum! The fireplace is reacting! Come and look!"

A more mature male voice said, "Wizet is coming back from Diagon Alley, so he should be carrying quite a few things. Ron, stand back a little and be careful."

A force pushed him from behind. Wizet ducked out of the fireplace, and what came into view was a living room built from crooked, uneven stones.

A tall red-haired boy stood in front of him and extended a hand with great poise. "Hello, I'm Percy Weasley, a Gryffindor prefect."

Another red-haired boy appeared and smiled a little shyly. "I'm Ron. I'm starting school this year too!"

A hand suddenly appeared beneath Percy's. "Hello! I'm Fred Weasley, the younger brother who's always getting points deducted by the prefect."

Then another hand appeared, covering Percy's palm. "Hello! I'm George Weasley, another younger brother who gets points deducted by the prefect."

"Shut up!" Percy barked. "If you two behaved a little better, who would deduct points from you?"

"That's Percy for you!" The two identical-looking boys wagged their heads and said in bitter disappointment, "I almost wonder if he's really our brother. He hasn't got a bit of humor."

Four boys stood in front of Wizet. They all had freckled faces and red hair.

Percy was the most formally dressed, wearing a black robe, with a gold-and-red badge pinned at his chest.

A pair of gold-rimmed glasses sat on the bridge of his nose, giving him a proper, bookish air.

Fred and George wore cheeky grins. Their clothes were not only old, but also bore smoky, singed traces of magic.

Ron stood at the very back, his eyes bright as he craned his neck and looked around curiously.

"All right!" A middle-aged woman in an apron appeared and pulled Fred and George aside.

"My name is Molly. Coming back this late—have you had dinner?" She bent down to look Wizet over, straightening his collar as she did. "Shall I make you something?"

Her name was Molly Weasley, and she was Ron, Percy, Fred, and George's mother.

Wizet looked over the large group of people. In their eyes there was no trace of distance or fear, and a sense of warmth welled up in him.

"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley..." He smiled and shook his head. "I don't think that's necessary. Mr. Lovegood left dinner for me."