After a day or two of "cooling off," the buzz surrounding Edward, the "man in the news," had died down. Only occasionally did someone give him a few extra looks, nothing like the treatment Harry Potter had received before, which came as a relief.
"Has there still been no news from Azkaban?"
Edward did not believe the Ministry of Magic could suppress something this big. How could those fly-like reporters possibly pass up such a huge story?
Edward had just picked up a glass of milk when he heard a rustling from outside.
Immediately afterward, a great dark swarm of owls flew in, dropping letters, newspapers, and parcels precisely in front of their recipients.
"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey."
Ron spat out the feather that had drifted into his mouth and muttered, "Why do these bloody birds always have to deliver the post at mealtimes?"
Hermione immediately said, "Because this is the only time everyone gathers in one place, so they don't have to search room by room."
"But... eating feathers is one thing. If an owl happened to have diarrhea, wouldn't that..."
Hermione glared fiercely at him. "Shut up, Ron!"
Thud!
Just then, a long, thick parcel landed in Harry's lap, giving him a fright.
"Huh? Someone actually sent me a parcel?"
Ron picked up another chicken leg and said with a grin, "What's so strange about that? Don't you have family?"
"...Oh, if it really is from them, I dread to imagine what's inside..." He adjusted his glasses. "They haven't sent me the broom I used to clean the house with, have they?"
"Why don't you just open it and see?"
As he spoke, Ron reached over to help Harry remove the parcel's outer wrapping. Soon, a broom lay before them.
Harry said in astonishment, "They really sent me a