Became good friends with the Boy Who Lived

Chapter 144: Order of the Phoenix, Quarrel, Compromise

Amidst the chaos, everyone finally finished their dinner before the midnight snack.

Those who made outstanding contributions to the delay of this late dinner included: Tonks, who was clumsy but loved to help; the twins, who always waved their wands randomly; and Mundungus, who always dragged his feet.

After finally enjoying dinner, when everyone was feeling a little sleepy at the table, Mrs. Weasley clapped her hands and said, "It's getting late, everyone, go to bed..."

"Wait a moment, Molly!" Sirius suddenly said, looking at Harry, "Harry! To be honest, you surprised me. I thought you would be eager to ask about Voldemort's situation. It's incredible that you can endure until now..."

The atmosphere in the kitchen suddenly changed. Everyone fell into a deafening silence, and many people showed alert expressions. The relaxed atmosphere just now completely disappeared.

"I asked," said Harry angrily, glancing at his companions in turn, "and they all said they didn't know, and they weren't allowed to attend Order meetings ..."

"In fact, you can't even join the Order of the Phoenix," Mrs. Weasley said earnestly, "You are all too young, still at school..." Mrs. Weasley lost her usual kindness, and her hands on the dining table were clenched into fists.

"Harry is different, Molly!" Sirius said calmly, "He has the right to ask and know certain things, even if he has not joined the Order of the Phoenix..."

"Wait a minute!" said Fred excitedly.

"Why can Harry ask questions and know the answers, but we can't?" George also said excitedly.

"We are adults and Harry isn't even an adult!" said Fred.

"You are too young...you can't join the Order of the Phoenix yet...stop asking stupid questions..." George imitated his mother's tone perfectly.

"That's enough, Mother!" said Fred. "We are not eggs without shells. You can't always keep us under your wings!"

"You can't blame me for this," Sirius spread his hands and said, "This is your parents' decision. However, Harry is different from you..."

"What's the difference?" Mrs. Weasley said excitedly, with a terrible expression on her face. "You haven't forgotten what Dumbledore said, have you, Sirius?"

"Which one?" Sirius asked politely, but his expression was like someone who accepted a challenge.

"Don't tell Harry...he...doesn't need...to know!" Mrs. Weasley said through gritted teeth, the last few words almost growled out.

The younger ones looked back and forth between Mrs. Weasley and Sirius as if they were watching a tense tennis match.

"So," Sirius said calmly, "I only told Harry what he needed to know. He witnessed Voldemort's return with his own eyes. He has the right..."

"He's only fifteen!" Mrs. Weasley interrupted Sirius's next words.

"But he has experienced much more than most people his age!" said Sirius. "He is not a child anymore, Molly!"

"But he's not a man either!" Mrs. Weasley's hands began to tremble with excitement. "He's not James, Sirius!"

"I don't quite understand what you mean, Molly!" said Sirius coldly.

"You know exactly what I mean!" said Mrs. Weasley excitedly. "Just listen to the tone you use when you talk about Harry. It's as if your best friend has come back from the dead!"

"If it's to carry on my father's legacy..." Harry said suddenly, "I'd be happy to..."

"But you are not your father, Harry!" said Mrs. Weasley sternly, her eyes fixed on Sirius. "You are still at school, and your guardian should not forget that!"

"Are you saying I'm an unfit godfather?" Sirius' voice rose an octave.

"I'm saying... you should think twice before making a decision," Mrs. Weasley said without giving in. "Dumbledore lets you stay in this house because he knows you're too reckless."

"We are talking about Harry," Sirius said impatiently, "Don't always bring up Dumbledore's sermon to me, thank you!"

"Arthur!" Mrs. Weasley said suddenly to her husband. "You support me, don't you?"

"Special situation...special treatment..." Mr. Weasley pondered for a while and said slowly, "Molly... dear... the situation has changed. Dumbledore must have agreed to reveal some information to Harry to a certain extent. Since Harry is already at the headquarters, it is better for us to tell him some accurate information than for him to imagine it himself..."

"So you just encourage him to ask random questions?" Mrs. Weasley looked at her husband in disbelief, as if she had just met him for the first time.

"I agree with Arthur's suggestion..." Remus said softly, ignoring the glare from Mrs. Weasley, "Let Harry learn some real truth from us... a rough real truth, not all... Molly... not all... It's better for him to hear some confusing... statements from others..."

"Very good..." Mrs. Weasley looked around, trying to get some support, but no one responded. "Very good... My idea was rejected, right? If Dumbledore were here, he would definitely support me. He wouldn't want Harry to know too much. I think Dumbledore must have his reasons. As an elder who truly cares about Harry..."

"He's not your son, Molly!" Sirius reminded softly.

"But he will most likely be my son-in-law in the future!" Harry and Ginny beside him blushed. Mrs. Weasley continued angrily, "What's the difference between that and my son? Who else does he have?"

"He still has me!" said Sirius solemnly.

"Yes! And you!" Mrs. Weasley said excitedly, "But you were locked up in Azkaban during those ten years when he needed you the most, weren't you? You had no time to take care of him, didn't you..."

Sirius stood up with a bang, his expression very ugly.

"You're not the only one in this room who cares about Harry, Molly!" Remus said seriously. "Sit down... Sirius... sit down..."

Mrs. Weasley's breathing was heavy and her lips were trembling. Sirius fell back into his armchair, his face pale and his expression a little lonely.

"Let's ask Harry's opinion!" Remus said at last. "Harry can make his own decision on this matter. After all, he is not young anymore."

"I wish I knew something!" Harry said without hesitation.

"Okay... okay... okay..." Mrs. Weasley said hoarsely, very sadly, "Eris, Fred, George, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Draco... leave the kitchen immediately and go back to bed..."

The kitchen suddenly exploded.

"We...are...adults..." Fred and George shouted.

"Why can Harry...but I can't?" Ron said unconvinced.

"I want to hear it too...Mom..." Ginny said in a shrill voice.

"No!" Mrs. Weasley roared like a lioness. "I will never allow ..."

"Let Fred and George stay!" said Mr. Weasley, his voice weary. "They are adults..."

"But they're still at school..." Mrs. Weasley said weakly.

"But they are legally adult wizards after all!" Mr. Weasley said tiredly.

Mrs. Weasley's face turned red, just like her hair. "I...oh...very good...Fred and George stay, the rest of you go..."

"There's no point, Mrs. Weasley!" said Archer quietly. "How are you going to stop Harry from telling us?"

Mrs. Weasley stared at Aris, muttering to herself, "Good...very good..." Finally she said loudly, "Ginny...go to bed..."

"Mrs. Weasley has always been strong-willed!" Aerys whispered to Hermione, "Dragging Ginny away is probably her last act of stubbornness!"

Hermione gave Aeris a speechless look.