A Letter That Meant Farewell

Happy times are always fleeting.

Especially since everything was moving in a positive direction—after several days of observation, Ginny finally confirmed that everything that had happened in Ron's room was just a misunderstanding.

Only Fred and George would occasionally joke about it.

About a week after arriving at the Burrow, on a clear morning, Harry received a letter from Sirius.

It was because of this that they discovered a long-forgotten existence— the House-elf Kreacher.

To avoid being ordered around by Harry, he hadn't appeared around Harry for days, and hadn't even said a word to him.

"Kreacher, where have you been these days?"

"And how do you manage to eat and sleep?" Ron asked curiously.

"Kreacher doesn't answer the son of a Pure-blood traitor," Kreacher muttered, head down.

"Kreacher, answer Ron's question, and don't call him that!" Harry said.

"Kreacher can only obey Harry Potter; it's the spendthrift's order. My poor mistress, Kreacher can only reply."

"Kreacher has been hiding next to Harry Potter. As long as Harry Potter doesn't notice Kreacher or forget about Kreacher, Kreacher doesn't have to obey the young master's orders."

"Kreacher can catch his own food," Kreacher replied reluctantly.

"But none of our chickens are missing," Ron asked curiously.

As the saying goes, children from poor families learn to be independent early. Although Ron was young and immature, he still knew the number of chickens in the house quite well.

"Kreacher, the bastard who has severed ties with his former master, has already fallen low enough—he ate your food on the first night, my mistress. Kreacher had no choice but to obey Harry Potter's orders."

"Kreacher catches mice, frogs, and bugs to eat," Kreacher said, panting. He still managed to find a way not to call Ron by his name directly.

"Kreacher, I order you to eat Weasley family food for lunch today. No refusing is allowed!" Harry said firmly.

Although he felt sorry for Kreacher, Harry thought it best not to show it.

Otherwise, Kreacher would probably have harmed himself as a result.

Perhaps not. He had never seen Kreacher harm himself; perhaps his former master or Sirius had stopped him.

"Noon today? You're leaving?" Ron poked his head out from under the orange blanket.

Now he's back in his own bed, and without the Ghoul's groans, he's having trouble sleeping.

"Are we leaving?" Draco, dressed in pajamas, poked his head out of the tent.

"Yes, Sirius sent a letter, delivered by Kreacher." Harry took out a letter.

Dear Harry:

Harry, I'll be picking you three up from the Weasley family this afternoon. You can talk to Arthur and Molly Weasley about this. Also, Dobby has gotten a job with Dumbledore. Oh, and when you get to my house, I'll introduce you to a new friend.

Your dear Sirius

"Does this mean I'll be able to see the place where my mother grew up?" Draco said wistfully.

"That explains why I didn't see any owls," Ron said.

"Sirius must have done this on purpose. He knew Mrs. Weasley wouldn't just agree to take us away like that."

"But it would be different if I said so," Harry said, both amused and exasperated.

"Who is the new friend?" Draco asked.

"Maybe it's that crazy House-elf Dobby? I knew it. Dumbledore wouldn't accept a House-elf who needs to be paid," Ron said.

He became more and more certain as he spoke, and then he stood up from the bed.

"Um, Ron."

"I remember reading the letter," Harry said.

He looked puzzled, like someone who had never seen a fish that could swim.

"What?" Ron looked at Harry hesitantly.

"Sirius already mentioned in the letter that Dobby got a job from Dumbledore." Draco rubbed his forehead. Even now, he was still a little unaccustomed to Ron's occasional silliness.

He also realized how foolish he had been to mistake Ron for a cunning individual who had gained Harry's trust.

"Ron. I think it might be Lupin," Harry said awkwardly.

"Who is Lupin?" Ron quickly changed the subject; he actually remembered Lupin.

"My dad's friend."

About half an hour later, Harry, Ron, and Draco came downstairs to have breakfast.

The Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were already seated at the table.

Harry nervously clutched the letter under his robes, not even noticing the slice of bread Mrs. Weasley offered him.

"What's wrong, Harry?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

She looked at her youngest daughter, Ginny. She knew that Ginny had been secretly watching Harry these past few days, but she didn't realize that it had put so much pressure on Harry.

"It has nothing to do with Ginny." Harry instantly understood Mrs. Weasley's gestures and expressions.

Ginny, standing to the side, raised her pretty face, looking completely bewildered.

Ron and Mr. Weasley were about to ask what was going on and what Ginny had to do with it when their thoughts were nipped in the bud by Draco and Mrs. Weasley's glances, respectively.

"It's a letter from Sirius," Harry said softly.

These past few days, Mrs. Weasley had been like a mother to her, and telling her this news somehow gave Harry a feeling of betrayal.

"When?" Mrs. Weasley's smile vanished.

He subconsciously stuffed several fried eggs into the bread he was about to hand over, as if worried that Harry would grow thin and leave their home.

"Sirius is coming at noon today." Harry shrank back.

"What's wrong, Mom?"

"Are Ron and Draco vying for attention again?"

"I don't think so, Fred, look—"

"I'll go call Percy for breakfast." Fred and George had just gone downstairs when they disappeared again.

Then came the sound of a car tire going flat. "I'm so stupid. Didn't I already know?" Mrs. Weasley muttered to herself.

"Arthur, you can drink today."

"This afternoon," Mrs. Weasley emphasized the last few words.

"Drink wine!"

"What is today—ah—I understand, Molly Weasley— "

"I really understand, Molly Weasley Little Trembler—" Mr. Weasley said.

"Mom, we're going out now." Even someone as slow-witted as Ron knew that this place was not a suitable place for him to stay any longer.

He grabbed a few pies and rushed out of the Burrow.

Draco and Harry followed closely behind, after a polite farewell.

Even Ginny quietly slipped away.

"I bet Mom wants Dad to get Sirius drunk," Ron said breathlessly a short while later, having already run to the garden.

"I don't think this is a good idea. Sirius already knows that Mrs. Weasley is not easy to deal with."

"Look, he didn't even send her a letter; he asked me to pass it on," Harry said, half complaining and half seriously.

"What does this have to do with us?"

"What's the difference between here and Sirius's house?" Draco asked.

"That's right."

"It's all for fun."

I received the notification yesterday, saying that it has received a minor ad recommendation on the QQ Reading Android app. I originally thought I would just play it offline until the end.

P. S.: Thanks to 20210821131607788, Taishi Yumi Xu, Lerror, and Dreaming Conch for their monthly tickets, as well as other students for their recommendations and subscriptions.