Ron Weasley personally carried a plate of steak to the table.
Even as the owner of countless Weasley's Restaurants, he was still used to staying in London and setting an example by serving guests himself.
When he returned to the kitchen, his assistant handed him a letter.
Ron took it, glanced at it, and smiled.
"Harry? If he wants to come, then let him. It's not like I'm going to throw him out... Wait."
When he saw the name written later in the invitation, his smile froze.
"Starting now, the restaurant is not taking any new guests. Once we've served everyone already here, close the place!"
The assistant's mouth fell open in shock.
As a world-famous restaurant, the place had always had an endless stream of customers.
It was almost lunchtime now. Closing the restaurant meant losing an entire day's revenue.
"And prepare the best ingredients for me. I'll cook personally."
The assistant quickly shut his mouth again and hurried off to pass on the orders.
The last time the boss had been this serious was the last time...
Ron kept taking deep breaths, his expression tense. Then he pushed the head chef aside with one hand.
"Alright, everyone. Emergency day off. Once you finish the orders in your hands, you can leave!"
Cheers rose throughout the kitchen.
Ron rubbed his hands together and carefully weighed the ingredients in front of him.
"What should I make... Beef Wellington is good. She ate quite a lot of it in France last time. Then red wine-braised Blast-Ended Skrewt. Although Blast-Ended Skrewts left us with some unpleasant memories, the meat has been cultivated rather well now... And of course, a full jug of Pumpkin juice!"
Ron muttered to himself in the kitchen.
His hands, however, were not slow. Before long, a whole table of dishes was ready.
Just then, the already-closed front door was pushed open.
Ron immediately turned around, a warm smile spreading across his face. Then he froze on the spot.
Harry had no idea what was going on.
"Mate, why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"
"I'd rather I had seen a ghost... Come on, look what I prepared for you."
Seeing the food and his best friend, Harry's worries finally eased a little, and he quickly walked over.
"Mm, I've been wanting to try this Flame-Grilled Yak Beef for ages. Not bad... Oh, there's even Creamy Mackled Malaclaw. Ron, you've outdone yourself!"
Harry did not stand on ceremony.
With one jab of his fork, he ruined the delicate plating of several dishes at once.
Ron clutched his heart, feeling so pained he could hardly breathe.
"Harry, I'm guessing you're the sort of man who doesn't value his wife's hard work. I'll have to find time to talk to Ginny..."
A trace of guilt rose in Harry's heart, and he reluctantly pulled the fork out of his mouth.
"What's wrong with you? Haven't we always been this casual in private?"
"Mate, that's us, not..."
"Not what?"
A calm voice came from behind them, and to Ron, it sounded like heavenly music.
Ron went still, swallowed, and slowly turned around.
The woman wore a slightly loose women's suit, a symbol of wizarding officials.
Her whole body radiated unquestionable confidence.
Her long brown hair carried a slight curl, and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses rested on her face, making her gaze seem even deeper.
"Hermione!"
Ron was still dazed.
Harry had already strode over and warmly hugged her.
Hermione patted his back with slight distaste, then pushed him away and came to stand in front of Ron.
"Long time no see, Ron," she said crisply.
Ron shot out his hand.
"Long time no see."
Hermione paused for a moment, then smiled and shook his hand.
Then she turned around.
As her hair swept past, it brought with it a faint fragrance. Ron could not help taking a deep breath, then held it, as if afraid the scent would escape.
"Talk. What is there that even you, the Minister of Magic, can't handle, that you had to call me here so urgently?"
Faced with her brisk, efficient manner, Harry smiled helplessly and first pulled Hermione over to sit down.
"You definitely haven't had lunch yet. Come on, try this wonderful meal I specially prepared for you."
At those words, Ron's eyes immediately widened.
Harry pushed him aside with one hand and sat down beside Hermione.
Only then did Ron hurry around to sit on the other side.
Looking at the two men sandwiching her between them, Hermione's expression turned strange. She picked up her knife and fork, cut off a piece of shrimp, and put it into her mouth.
She was indeed hungry.
"Mm, not bad. Much better than what I had during my visit to France."
"Really?" Ron was overjoyed. "Then try this Beef Wellington. I specially..."
"Forget it. I don't like that thing."
Hermione pushed it away with a look of dislike.
Ron froze.
"But you praised it endlessly in France."
Hermione glanced at him, then silently looked away again. Her voice was no longer as crisp as before.
"Ron, that was etiquette. We always have to express the appropriate attitude in the appropriate way, even if I don't actually like it. That is the Prime Minister's responsibility."
Ron scratched his head with a silly smile, his heart filled with emotion.
Harry and Hermione had both matured so much because of their responsibilities.
It felt as though only he was still lost in the youth of the past.
But he did not lose heart. He continued enthusiastically introducing each dish.
As they ate, Hermione asked Harry again.
"I don't have that much time to waste. Say it directly. What exactly happened?"
"Then you need to stay calm," Harry said seriously.
"Harry, I can stay calmer than anyone," Hermione said, unable to hold back a laugh.
Ever since she had resolved to follow in that man's footsteps and realize her own ideals, she had long since learned to think with almost cold reason and logic.
If the two people accompanying her had not been old friends, she probably would not even have shown such a relaxed smile.
Under their curious gazes, Harry cleared his throat.
"A thief stole a bomb that could blow the whole of Britain sky-high."
Ron's jaw dropped.
Hermione's eyes went blank, as if her mind had stalled.
Even she could not avoid feeling shaken at that moment.
In the spacious restaurant, now empty except for the three of them, Harry's low voice slowly echoed.
Afterward, dead silence fell.
Ron suddenly clapped and burst out laughing.
"Great, great. Cough, I mean, Neville's research is great. Whoever stole the Firecage Grass is an absolute monster!"
Under the murderous gazes of the other two, he sheepishly lowered his head.
When Harry finished speaking, he shrugged and asked, "So tell me, what do we do now?"
"First, ban all sales of Magic Fluid," Ron said as if it were obvious. "Without Magic Fluid, Firecage Grass is just a pile of grass."
"No. It's definitely not that simple."
Hermione made the call immediately.
Even with her heart pounding violently and interfering with her thoughts, she forced her mind to calm down and analyze the situation.
"One Firecage Grass plant can detonate one ton of Magic Fluid. One ton of Magic Fluid is easy to gather, but the other side stole one hundred thousand plants..."
"That means one hundred thousand tons. Even a Magic Fluid production workshop wouldn't store that much stock!"
Harry loudly added, his expression lifting as he slammed his fist onto the table.
"So someone must be helping him collect Magic Fluid. As long as we trace the illegal movement of large quantities of Magic Fluid, we'll definitely find him!"
While he was getting excited, Hermione smiled and raised her mobile phone, showing him the text message on the screen.
"Stop hitting the table. I've already contacted the Management Office. As it happens, they said there was a Magic Fluid robbery in Birmingham. The perpetrator is suspected to be a wizard, and they're already in pursuit."
Now Harry grew even more excited.
"Good. I'll lead the Aurors to arrest him right now!"
Harry was about to Apparate.
"Wait!"
Ron quickly took off his apron and gripped his wand.
Hermione was even more direct. She kicked off her high heels, pulled a pair of trainers from her small waist pouch, and changed into them.
Then she tightened her suit jacket and tied her long hair into a ponytail.
In an instant, she looked much sharper and more capable.
Facing their surprised gazes, she calmly drew her wand.
"I only became Prime Minister. I didn't forget magic."
Harry looked at her in surprise, then looked at Ron.
"This is my responsibility, but not yours..."
"Mate, I'm not leaving you alone in something this dangerous and exciting," Ron said with a grin, spreading his hands.
Hermione raised her chin slightly, her expression resembling the little girl they had first met on the train all those years ago.
"I'm not going to perform worse than either of you. Besides, I'm more afraid your brains won't keep up and you'll let him get away."
In that instant, it was as if they had returned to the days when they fought side by side.
The three of them looked at one another, suddenly smiled, and clasped hands.
"Then let's show this blind thief what the Gryffindor Golden Trio is made of!" Harry declared.