Harry spent the entire afternoon sitting on the sofa in front of the fireplace, staring into the flames in a daze. Michael sat beside him, equally uninterested in conversation.
They wanted to do something, but the adults had strictly forbidden them from leaving the room. Lupin had not returned yet, and a strange young witch, Tonks, was acting as their "guard."
"Hey, you two, cheer up, will you?" Tonks tried hard to lighten the mood. "Look at me—"
She turned her nose into a pink pig snout and made snuffling noises, but neither of the children in front of the fireplace spared her a glance.
"It's the first time my trick has failed!"
Feeling disheartened, Tonks raised her voice and said, "On the bright side, that kid was kidnapped rather than killed, which means the other party must need him alive. You have to trust the Aurors from the Ministry of Magic; we will definitely bring him back!"
This time, Michael finally glanced her way.
"Have they caught those three escapees?"
Tonks: "..."
"Have they found the Obscurus?" Michael asked again.
Tonks: "Uh..."
"I heard Dementors attacked people suddenly in Diagon Alley yesterday. Have you given any explanation?"
Tonks was about to cry; she felt that not all these issues were her responsibility, but they piled on one after another, nearly crushing her to her knees.
Michael let out a deep sigh, burying his face in his hands, his mind replaying the scene from the morning when everyone went out.
He actually noticed it... Vid wasn't very enthusiastic and looked tired, but thinking that everyone was going shopping, he couldn't leave Vid behind, so he didn't suggest he stay home.
If he had spoken up... if he had insisted Vid stay home to rest... could the accident have been avoided?
The red flames in the fireplace suddenly turned green, and everyone simultaneously turned their heads. Tonks nervously drew her wand, shielding the two children behind her.
Soon after, they heard a young voice: "Oh! What's the need for so many of you to come over?"
"Fred, you're stepping on my foot!"
"Sorry, Ginny, but I'm George!"
A group of red-haired people seemed to be in the wrong order, scrambling out of the fireplace. Ron ended up right at the bottom, with Ginny knocked onto the sofa, kneeling with a thud.
Fred and George fared no better, tripping over their younger siblings in succession, ending up covered in soot.
Right after them came Mr. Arthur Weasley, who managed to maintain a semblance of adult composure, stumbling out of the fireplace and muttering:
"You mischievous lot, wait until you get a scolding!"
"Mr. Weasley!" Harry exclaimed, peeking out from behind Tonks. "And Ron, Ginny, George, Fred! What are you all doing here?"
"Oh, long time no see, Harry. And this must be Michael, right?" Arthur Weasley brushed the dust off himself and said, "We're here to pick you up, kids."
"—Pick us up?"
Harry asked in confusion, while Michael immediately frowned.
"I heard Vid went missing, what's going on?" Fred asked while helping his sister up.
Ginny turned red, hiding behind her brother, wishing she could make her presence diminish to nothing.
George asked, "We thought we'd see if we could help... Finding someone is always easier with more people, right?"
"Are you okay, Harry?" Ron looked at him with concern, carefully as if Harry were fragile china. "I bet you're not feeling well right now..."
"What happened?" Fred pushed his brother aside and asked.
The chaotic voices erupted around him, and Harry opened his mouth but couldn't speak, feeling as if his throat was filled with sand.
How could he explain—carelessly losing a friend?
Fortunately, the question didn't require an answer, because before Harry could speak, the door was suddenly pushed open. The cold wind carried fine snowflakes, instantly sweeping in.
Dumbledore stood at the doorway, his expression terrifying, with a thin layer of snow covering his silver hair and shoulders.
The elder seemed to contain an irresistible fury, instantly silencing everyone as the chaotic sounds disappeared.
Dumbledore's anger was not directed at the people inside. He restrained his expression, scanned the room, nodded at them, and with a wave of his wand, a silver Guardian God shot out instantly.
It wasn't long before there was a "bang bang bang" in the yard, like fireworks exploding, as several wizards Apparated in, pulled down their hoods, and quickly walked into the living room.
Harry saw a pale-faced Lupin, a long-unseen Sirius, the Auror Kingsley who once tried to take Sirius away, and two other wizards he didn't recognize.
A scary-looking wizard with differently colored eyes frowned at them and said, "Why are there so many children?"
Kingsley calmly said, "Because the missing one is also a child, Moody—these are likely his friends from school."
Alastor Moody clicked his tongue, "Most of them are from the Weasley family... Arthur, take them home! This isn't a place for children to be involved!"
"But Vid is our friend!" George said angrily. "And our magic skills aren't half bad, don't underestimate us! We can help!"