HP: The Duelist of Hogwarts - 393

Chapter 393: 12 Grimmauld Place

Meetings were always boring, even Order of the Phoenix meetings. Especially Order meetings without Dumbledore. Everyone had different opinions and ideas that couldn't be unified. Not to mention Snape and Sirius. Even Sirius and Molly Weasley, and even Kingsley, all had different opinions. No one could convince anyone else. The endless arguing and clamor grated on Sean's nerves.

As if seeing Sean's impatience, Snape turned to look at him, his voice low. "If you don't like it, you can temporarily leave. Without Dumbledore present, these foolish Gryffindors won't argue their way to an answer anyway."

When Snape said the latter half, his voice grew noticeably louder, immediately drawing angry glares from the Gryffindors present. Sirius said directly to Snape, "Snivellus, if it weren't for those Death Eaters and pureblood supremacist bureaucrats in the Ministry educated by you Slytherins, I don't think we'd need to argue here over Harry's situation!"

"Heh..." Snape's lips curved into a cold sneer, mocking. "Even now, I don't think there's any need to argue. In my view, Potter will inevitably become a notorious criminal like his godfather, whether sooner or later makes no difference since the result is the same."

"Snivellus!" Sirius stood from his seat, roaring at Snape. "I knew it. Dumbledore shouldn't have recruited you into the Order. You're thoroughly a Death Eater!"

"Sirius!"

"Black!"

Regarding the dispute between Sirius and his Head of House, Sean didn't want to get involved. Seeing Sirius restrained by Lupin and Kingsley, Sean nodded to Snape and left the dining room. Using the excuse of touring the house, Sean actually planned to find the house-elf Kreacher.

Because only with Kreacher's cooperation could he more easily find Slytherin's Locket hidden here. Otherwise, this house was not small at all. Searching bit by bit, who knew how long it would take, and it would be too conspicuous.

Finding Kreacher wasn't difficult. Just follow his muttering.

But before Sean found Kreacher, Harry, Ron, Hermione, the Weasley twins, and Ginny, a whole group found him first, preventing Sean from having a detailed discussion with Kreacher.

"Sean, can we bother you a moment?"

Looking at Hermione, Sean nodded. "Of course, but if you want to ask about the meeting's contents, I won't tell you."

"Oh... don't be like that, Sean. I think telling us a little bit should be fine, right?"

"Exactly, just a little bit, absolutely no problem."

Looking at the alternating Weasley twins, Sean shook his head. "Without others' permission, I won't tell you about inside matters. But I can discuss something else. Harry, your issue needs to be judged before the Wizengamot at the Ministry. Though Fudge is now openly opposing Dumbledore, the Ministry doesn't belong to Cornelius. Even with backers, the Ministry isn't run by just those people. Additionally, I'm now a Wizengamot member, and Professor Dumbledore is Chief Warlock. The judgment result requires our vote. Though I can at most represent only myself, Professor Dumbledore has wide connections. Most Wizengamot members are willing to give him their respect. So the final result doesn't need excessive worry. Harry will be fine.

However, I think that at this trial, Harry, you shouldn't just wait for them to judge you. You should also explain some things clearly to the Wizengamot wizards during the trial. Tell them the truth about certain matters and expose Fudge's foolish behavior publicly."

If it were the Harry from original history, perhaps he'd hesitate, waver, feel pressure. But current Harry, hearing Sean's words, actually became somewhat eager to try. He turned to look at Hermione and Ron, then at the equally eager Weasley twins, then back at Sean, nodding heavily.

The Order meeting ended in discord without reaching conclusions.

After the meeting, Snape immediately left. In his words, "this isn't a place humans can stay," so he quickly departed after the meeting ended.

When leaving, Snape didn't call Sean along because he'd also received orders from Voldemort to kill Sean. At Hogwarts or in Order meetings, there were always other people around, giving Snape a plausible reason not to act. But if the two were alone together, Snape would have no excuse not to follow through with Voldemort's orders.

Not long after Snape left, Kingsley and Tonks also departed.

During this time, Sean also met Mundungus Fletcher, this thief and swindler who looked like a complete lowlife. Sean seriously doubted how he had joined the Order. He vaguely remembered that in original history, Slytherin's Locket ended up in Umbridge's hands because of him, and Moody died because of his desertion. Such a person, even if he could obtain some shady news or gather intelligence, couldn't make up for the losses and damage he caused.

For instance, this time with Harry using the Patronus Charm. If Mundungus hadn't been derelict in duty, running off to deal with smuggled cauldrons while protecting Harry, Harry wouldn't have faced Dementors alone, forced to cast the Patronus to drive away those two Dementors, causing subsequent troubles.

Though Sean suspected Mundungus didn't look like someone who could cast a Patronus anyway...

However, now that Sean had joined the Order, naturally, there was no need to let Mundungus continue taking risks in the Order. At least some core Order missions shouldn't involve Mundungus anymore.

Thinking this, Sean's eyelids drooped slightly as he sat at the long dining table, beginning to enjoy Mrs. Weasley's dinner.

It must be said that purely in terms of taste, Mrs. Weasley's dinner was better than Hogwarts house-elves' cooking and even better than his own house-elf Emerald's dishes. Even some restaurant food couldn't compare. This dramatically increased Sean's favorable impression of Mrs. Weasley.