Su Er followed Amelia across the driveway and into a house diagonally opposite Ellison's.
"Do you know how to use Floo Powder?" Amelia went straight to the fireplace, picked up a glass jar filled with silver powder, and turned to ask him.
Su Er shook his head.
He knew what Floo Powder was and how it worked, but he had never used it before. He did not dare say yes. If he ended up transported to some deserted place, no one would hear him calling for help.
"It's very simple." With a casual gesture, Amelia set a roaring fire blazing in the hearth.
Su Er's eyes lit up. Was that silent, wandless magic?
Amelia glanced at Su Er without betraying anything, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.
"Throw the powder in, and the Floo Powder will turn the flames green. Then you just need to stand inside and say 'Ministry of Magic' clearly and firmly. This fireplace is connected to only one destination, so you don't need to worry about ending up somewhere else if you mispronounce it."
"Of course, there are still risks. At worst, you'll get stuck halfway and be unable to get out."
"Remember to tuck your elbows in and don't panic. If you're scared, just close your eyes. I'll go first. Watch what I do, and I'll wait for you on the other side."
"Don't worry. It's easy."
Su Er nodded, watching intently as Amelia tossed a handful of silver powder into the fire, stepped inside, and called out, "Ministry of Magic!"
The green flames roared around her body, and then she vanished.
Su Er followed right behind her. Copying Amelia, he poured some silver powder into his palm and tossed it into the fireplace.
The instant the flames touched the Floo Powder, they flared up, changing from red to a vivid green.
Su Er cautiously reached out to test them. Only after confirming that they would not hurt him did he step inside with confidence.
"Ministry of Magic."
Feeling the green flames lick over his entire body, Su Er opened his eyes wide and called out his destination.
Using Floo Powder felt very strange. His body seemed to stretch into a noodle before being pulled straight into a passage, while something like the roar of wind or fire filled his ears.
Green flames spun wildly around his body. Looking directly at them could make a person dizzy.
Su Er briefly closed his eyes, forcing himself to look through the flames at what lay beyond rather than at the flames themselves. He could vaguely make out a succession of fireplace openings rushing past. Through one, he saw a family sitting around the hearth, unwrapping presents.
A few minutes passed-or perhaps it was only a few seconds?
Su Er felt the fireplace give him a shove. He staggered forward a few steps before a pair of hands steadied him. Looking up, he found Amelia smiling at him.
"All right? Floo Powder can take some getting used to the first time. You'll be fine once you're accustomed to it."
"I'm fine, thank you." Su Er shook his head and straightened up.
They stood in a very spacious passage, its floor laid with dark marble tiles polished to a gleaming shine. No, did it look more like wood? Perhaps wooden boards that resembled stone?
The ceiling was peacock blue, studded with flecks of gold that formed one golden symbol after another, drifting and changing overhead.
Ornate gilded fireplaces lined both sides of the passage. Su Er had just emerged from one of them. Every so often, green flames would flare in a fireplace and a wizard would pop out. In some, only part of a hand and a parcel appeared, and a wizard assigned to the task would step forward to collect it.
Apparently, Floo Powder did more than provide transport.
"Shall we?" Amelia asked softly.
Su Er nodded and followed Amelia toward a splendid golden area at one end of the passage that appeared to be a hall.
Quite a few wizards greeted Amelia along the way, then cast curious glances at Su Er.
It seemed this aunt he had acquired held quite a high position at the Ministry of Magic?
The first thing he saw upon leaving the passage was a fountain. A group of golden statues stood in the middle of its circular pool: a noble-looking wizard held his wand aloft, surrounded by a witch, a goblin, a centaur, and a house-elf, all wearing exaggerated expressions of adoration.
An open space lay in front of the fountain, where many wizards appeared and vanished with sharp cracks. Su Er saw several witches casually toss coins into the pool as they passed.
The wizarding world had wishing fountains too? That was Su Er's first thought. Then he spotted a small, grimy sign engraved with the words-
"All proceeds from the Fountain of Magical Brethren are donated to St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries."
Got it. A charitable fund.
Su Er followed Amelia through a golden door and turned into a small entrance hall, where quite a few wizards stood.
"Merry Christmas, Madam Bones." A stubbly man gave Amelia an ingratiating smile.
Amelia had become a different person since arriving at the Ministry of Magic. Her expression had turned very stern, and Su Er had not seen her offer anyone even the slightest smile along the way.
That familiar expression reminded Su Er of Professor McGonagall at Hogwarts.
She merely gave a quiet "Mm" in response, looking utterly haughty.
"Ding-dong." The lift nearest them chimed. The man hurried forward and pressed the button. "Allow me. The second floor?"
Amelia gave the man a brief glance and said with cool hauteur, "No need to trouble yourself, Mr. Scowne."
"It's only right, Madam Bones." After pressing the button marked "2" inside the lift, the man stepped back out of his own accord.
Su Er followed Amelia into the lift. As it began moving with a rumble, he saw the man cast him a surprised look through the metal grille.
"I have to act this way. Otherwise, people always think I'm easy to persuade and ask me to reduce the charges against their relatives," Amelia explained softly, turning her head toward Su Er as the lift moved.
Su Er nodded in silence.
The lift moved very quickly, and soon another chime sounded.
"Level two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Command, and Wizengamot Administration Services."
As the announcement sounded, gears drew the metal grille open.
Su Er followed Amelia down a long corridor lined with doors on both sides. As they passed a window, a bright shaft of sunlight streamed in.
"These windows are enchanted. Whatever the weather is like outside, that's what they show here," Amelia explained, noticing the curiosity in Su Er's eyes.
Su Er silently concluded that it worked on the same principle as the ceiling of the Great Hall at Hogwarts.
Then they rounded a corner, passed through two heavy oak doors, and entered an open area divided into many cubicles. A sign hung at the entrance to one, bearing the hastily scrawled words "Auror Command."
Su Er stole a glance inside and saw a witch sitting listlessly on a stool, rocking back and forth with her feet propped on a desk littered with sweet wrappers.
He recognized the witch.
They continued forward, passed the last row of cubicles, and stopped outside a separate office.
"We're here," Amelia said. "Would you like to wait outside, or come into my office and have a look?"
Su Er glanced at the sign on the door-"Office of the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement"-and shook his head.
"I'll wait here. Please be as quick as you can. I want to get back early to spend time with my little sister."
Before you continue