The Floo Network

Harry had actually anticipated that lunch today might not be as easy as usual.

After all, Sirius said he would come to pick him up.

Even so, Harry hadn't expected it to be this serious.

Lunch was also served in the garden, with roast chicken, pies, salad, cake, juice, roast potatoes, fried sausages, and a tempting onion soup filling the table.

However, even Ron remained obediently seated amidst the sumptuous feast, not daring to take a single bite.

Fred and George were perhaps more serious than ever before, their eyes fixed blankly into the void. It was the first time anyone had noticed how much they resembled Percy, except for their hair.

Ginny kept glancing at Harry, as if she wanted to see him through his act.

Percy, who often proudly flaunted his prefectural Prefect Badge, obediently took it off.

Draco seemed to be holding his breath, and his pale face looked even more bloodless than usual.

Even the Goblin in the garden stopped making a ruckus.

Beside a peony, a goblin lying on its Goblin as the best warning to them.

While Mrs. Weasley was waiting for Sirius, the poor, boisterous Goblin was struck by Mrs. Weasley's Petrificus Totalus.

Mr. Weasley glanced at his watch every now and then to check the time.

No, perhaps only Kreacher feels somewhat at ease.

He held a piece of bread resentfully—the only thing he was willing to accept.

And it would take a few bites every now and then, like chewing on a piece of rubber.

Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Although he understood Mrs. Weasley's feelings, he couldn't help but wonder, "Why are they out here at 11 o'clock before noon and waiting?"

Harry glanced at the sky every now and then; he knew Sirius had a flying motorcycle, which Mr. Weasley had mentioned when discussing his works.

It seems like Hagrid has one too.

Although it was impolite to think that way, Harry couldn't believe there was a motorcycle that Hagrid could fit on.

However, things didn't seem to go as Harry had imagined.

Kreacher suddenly turned around, as if there was something bad in the Burrow.

It's Sirius!

He came out of the Burrow!

"Arthur, why are we eating so early?"

"I checked the time and it's only 11:30. I left half an hour early, how come I'm still late?" Sirius laughed heartily.

He sat in the seat that Mr. Weasley had specially reserved for him on the left.

"Mmm, onion soup! Molly Weasley's specialty!" Sirius drank it without any hesitation.

It was as if Mrs. Weasley, who was next to Mr. Weasley, didn't exist to his right.

Mr. Weasley first made a strange noise, then casually rubbed his thigh. "Sirius, here, some good wine from my colleagues in the international department."

"Is this vodka?" Sirius sniffed.

"This liquor isn't very strong, you see, it's like water," Mr. Weasley said, feigning ignorance.

"No, I'm picking up Harry and the others to take them to my house today," Sirius waved his hand.

"You came here using the Floo Network, what's a little drink?" Mr. Weasley urged, following the same line he had agreed upon with Mrs. Weasley. "If you don't drink, you're disrespecting me."

There's a saying in the Muggle world, "Don't drink and drive."

"The same principle applies to traveling with Floo Network. You must clearly and accurately state where you want to go, otherwise you may arrive at the wrong destination," Sirius refused.

"Sirius, the Floo Network has been in use for almost three hundred years. I think you're worrying too much." Mrs. Weasley herself spoke up. Mr. Weasley, standing to the side, looked relieved, forcing a confused expression as he absentmindedly ate his pie.

"No, Molly Weasley."

"Remember the Dilliman tragedy of 1855? Violet Dilliman, the witch, was arguing with her husband Albert, and was sobbing and hiccuping. As a result, she disappeared while using Floo Network to go to her mother's house in this state."

"Poor Albert never saw his wife again before he died, and he never used the Floo Network again," Sirius said.

This reasoned rebuttal even earned Mr. Weasley's thumbs up.

Seeing Mrs. Weasley's obvious suppressed anger, Harry figured that no matter where they stayed tonight, Mr. Weasley was probably in for a rough time.

"Sirius, you may not know the rest of this story."

"Violet didn't disappear; she was simply teleported by mistake to the fireplace of a handsome wizard named Myron Ozerhouse who lived in the home of Bury-St. Edmunds."

"Myron fell in love with Violet at first sight, even though she had tears on her face and soot on her face."

"In the end, they lived happily together and had seven children."

"The number of children is the same as Arthur's."

"It's quite a coincidence, they're also distant relatives of Arthur and me," Mrs. Weasley retorted, suppressing her anger and offering equally reasoned arguments.

This made Ron briefly forget to continue eating; if Draco hadn't almost taken the last chicken pie, he probably would have remained engrossed in the story.

"And what about poor Albert?" Sirius couldn't help but ask, forgetting that he was debating with Mrs. Weasley about whether or not to drink before using Floo Network.

"Just like in your story, he died alone and never used Floo Network again."

"Violet didn't reappear until after his death," Mrs. Weasley said.

"So this story teaches us that when using Floo Network, we must speak clearly, and especially avoid drinking alcohol," Sirius suddenly said, then turned to Harry with a bright smile. "Harry, be careful when you use it later."

"You know, many wizarding families want to adopt you."

"In that case, you and your dear godfather will have to separate." Sirius emphasized the word 'godfather,' seemingly implying something.

Harry didn't dare to say anything and lowered his head to eat his salad.

Because he understood that Mrs. Weasley no longer had any reason to get Sirius drunk.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, a large crowd gathered in front of the fireplace in the Weasley family's kitchen.

"Harry, you need to be careful and remember to speak clearly."

"You can shout outside first, and then jump into the fire immediately."

"This avoids the effects of furnace ash and heat." Sirius took a bag of shiny powder out of his pocket, pinched off a pinch, and threw the powder into the flame.

With a whoosh, the fire turned emerald green and rose higher than Fred.

He walked straight into the fire and shouted, "Grimmauld Place, Number 12!"

They disappeared in the blink of an eye.