Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures

However, judging from the photos that Evan received, Gabrielle was actually about the same height as Elaine.

Based on this, it could be inferred that Fleur’s statement should not be tenable, because Elaine was definitely not a young lady.

In addition, Fleur also told them that Gabrielle had previously wanted to apply to study at Hogwarts as an exchange student.

But given the current situation, her application was ultimately shelved.

Mrs. Weasley gave Fleur a disapproving glare because she was being so loud.

She frowned and kept pointing her wand at the volume control, so that Celestina grew louder and louder.

Oh, come and stir my cauldron,

And if you do it right,

I’ll boil you up some hot strong love

To keep you warm tonight.

Under cover of a particularly jazzy number called “A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love,” Fred and George started a game of Exploding Snap behind the Christmas tree, with Ginny and Elaine. Harry, Ron and Mr. Weasley were discussing something at the dining table, seemingly about Muggle radios and television.

And then there was Lupin, he had also come to the Burrow for Christmas.

After not seeing him for a few months, he was thinner and more ragged-looking than ever.

Lupin was sitting beside the fire, staring into its depths as though he could not hear Celestina’s voice.

Evan looked at Lupin, said something to Hermione, Bill and Fleur, and came to Lupin’s side.

“You look terrible,” said Evan.

“Yeah, I do. You know, I’m working underground, hardly ever see the sun, and I can’t risk contacting others, or I’d be exposed. Slipping out for a bit at times like this is the only chance I get,” said Lupin with a smile, but it made him look more haggard, with deep shadows under his eyes, and he looked malnourished.

Evan knew that Lupin was hiding among the werewolves and acting as a spy for the Order of the Phoenix.

This work was dangerous and exhausting.

He hesitated for a moment and asked, “So how’s it going?”

“No progress. It has been difficult gaining their trust. I bear the unmistakable signs of having tried to live among wizards, you see, whereas they have shunned normal society and live on the margins, stealing — and sometimes killing — to eat. I’ve seen it happen a few times,” said Lupin. “But I still got some useful information. You’ve been to the underground world of Knockturn Alley three months ago, haven’t you?”

“We were following Malfoy and met Greyback there. Did he recognize us?”

“I don’t think so. He just assumed you were a few lost Hogwarts students, but I knew it was you the moment I heard about it,” said Lupin. “Listen, Evan, I know you’re capable, but you shouldn’t take such risks, especially with Harry there at the time —”

“I don’t need to be taken care of either. I’m not a child anymore,” said Harry, turning his head toward them and joining the conversation. “Malfoy is really suspicious, Remus. We can now confirm that he’s a Death Eater. Voldemort’s given him a mission, and he’s definitely up to something…”

He repeated the conversation he had overheard the night before and looked at Lupin expectantly.

Lupin was silent for a moment, then asked, “Have you told Dumbledore?”

“I did, but Dumbledore told me to leave it alone,” said Harry gloomily. “Malfoy and Snape are plotting something right under our noses, but Dumbledore thinks it’s unimportant.”

“The Headmaster has his own plans,” Evan tried to reassure him.

“Yes, but he won’t say anything.”

“I think since Dumbledore didn’t say anything, then either this really isn’t important or he doesn’t think it’s the right time yet,” said Lupin. “I don’t know Draco Malfoy very well, but when it comes to Severus, I trust him. I know you don’t like to hear this, Harry, but Dumbledore trusts Severus, and that ought to be good enough for all of us. If you trust Dumbledore’s judgment, then you should trust Severus.”

“But Dumbledore can make mistakes,” argued Harry.

“You are determined to hate Severus, Harry, just like you are determined to hate Draco,” said Lupin with a faint smile. “And I understand; with James as your father, with Sirius as your godfather, you have inherited an old prejudice. But things may not be as you assume. It might have been on Dumbledore’s orders that Severus questioned Draco, or maybe Draco has no choice in what he’s doing for Voldemort. That’s why Dumbledore wasn’t surprised and told you not to interfere.”

Harry stopped talking. He had to admit that Lupin was still very rational, much more rational than Sirius.

“Let’s not talk about this anymore. What’s going on between you and Tonks?”

“There’s nothing between her and me,” Lupin’s face showed a trace of panic, and he was not as confident as before.

“Nothing?” said Evan. “She looks as worn out as you do.”

“She, I just…” Lupin was silent for a while. “Is she okay?”

“I don’t know. You should ask her in person,” said Evan. “I don’t think she cares about your identity as a werewolf.”

Lupin looked at him in surprise. “You know about that? Yes, I’m a werewolf. It is a cursed identity. When I transform, I cannot guarantee how much sanity I will have left. So … so, I can’t.”

“We all think you’re normal, no different from everyone else. Tonks thinks so too.”

Lupin shook his head stubbornly, just as he had just said to Harry. Harry inherited a prejudice from his father James and Sirius, which made him determined to hate Snape; Lupin was no different. His werewolf identity made him inherit a prejudice and inferiority complex, which made him avoid Tonks.

This was something only he could work through, no one else could help him.

It was really inappropriate to bring up two unpleasant topics in succession on Christmas Eve.

At that moment, Celina ended her song on a very long, high-pitched note.

… and now you’ve torn it quite apart

I’ll thank you to give back my heart!

Loud applause issued out of the wireless, which Mrs. Weasley joined in with enthusiastically.

“Eez eet over?” said Fleur loudly. “Thank goodness, what an ’orrible —”

Hermione stuck out her tongue and sat down next to Evan, glad to be rid of Fleur.

Fred, George, Ginny, and Elaine had just finished a round of Exploding Snap. Noticing the sudden silence, Mr. Weasley leapt to his feet and asked loudly, “Shall we have a nightcap, then? Who wants eggnog?”

“I’ll get it, dear,” said Mrs. Weasley.

While she bustled off to fetch the eggnog, everybody else stretched and broke into conversation.

Hermione took the opportunity to ask Mr. Weasley about the latest developments in the Ministry, which everyone was very concerned about.

“Very Busy. Scrimgeour hopes to be able to effectively stop You-Know-Who and the Death Eaters, but we can’t find them at all. They seem to have gone into hiding, only coming out to attack from time to time. There has been no progress at all. In fact, I wouldn’t mind if we were getting anywhere, but of the three arrests we’ve made in the last couple of months, I doubt that one of them is a genuine Death Eater — only don’t repeat that, kids. Top secret,” he added quickly, looking much more awake all of a sudden.

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