Harry got up to use the bathroom, only to hear someone downstairs mention his name.
Instinctively, Harry slowed his steps and looked down.
Harry saw several adults coming out of a room on the lowest floor. The one who was speaking, and who had mentioned his name, was a tall Black man.
He had not been at dinner, but Harry recognized him.
Kingsley Shacklebolt.
He was probably an Auror at the Ministry of Magic. Harry had seen him there yesterday when he went to attend his hearing, and had even wanted to say hello, but Sirius had stopped him.
Sirius and Mr. Weasley had also acted as though they did not know Kingsley particularly well, and Kingsley had done the same.
Harry had not been in the mood to think much about it at the time, but after returning from the hearing, he had relaxed and begun recalling what had happened during the visit. He had formed a few ideas about all that. This Kingsley was probably an inside contact for the Order of the Phoenix within the Ministry of Magic.
After all, judging by the current situation, Harry and the others, along with the Order of the Phoenix, could no longer be considered on the same side as the Ministry of Magic-or, more precisely, the group within the Ministry led by Fudge.
Mr. Weasley would probably be sidelined and find it difficult to obtain much information, so they did indeed need an inside contact no one knew about. Kingsley filled that role.
Downstairs, Kingsley was talking to Sirius. "Sirius, I don't understand. Why didn't Dumbledore make Harry a prefect? I think he ought to show his trust in Harry at a time like this. After all, the Daily Prophet publishes articles slandering Harry every few days."
The Daily Prophet?