HP: The Duelist of Hogwarts - 389

Chapter 389: The Burrow

Scrimgeour...

He could be a potential partner for cooperation. However, given his rigid sense of justice, the approach would need some adjustment.

Of course, all that was for later.

Over the following weeks, aside from twice-weekly training sessions, Sean mostly stayed home with his family. He visited Burkes Manor twice for short stays of two days each. In early August, Sean finally ended the training, letting Harry and the others go home to rest. They would resume after school started.

During this period, Sean also had numerous opportunities to extract abilities from Harry. However, whether because Sean had been too lucky recently or because he'd already gained so much from Ravenclaw's Vanity Mirror, everything he extracted from Harry afterward proved worthless. Not a single talent emerged.

The early end to training was partly related to this disappointing streak.

Early one morning, Sean held Caesar while eating breakfast. Caesar could now eat by himself and usually sat eating alone. But whenever Sean was home, Caesar would act spoiled, wanting Sean to hold him. Sean doted on his little brother, so during meals, Sean would feed Caesar first before eating himself.

"Full yet?"

"Full..."

Hearing Caesar's words, Sean took a napkin and wiped his mouth, then handed his brother to Martha. Caesar was quite sensible, knowing his brother also needed to eat, so he lay quietly in his mother's arms, holding a bottle and drinking milk to top himself off.

Sean's appetite was as large as ever. By the time he finished, he'd consumed a significant portion of the family's food.

Just as Sean was drinking orange juice to finish up, someone knocked at the door. Sean went to answer it and, seeing Aldrich standing outside, opened it with surprise and let him in. "Aldrich, why are you here so early?"

"Young Master, Headmaster Dumbledore contacted me. He said he couldn't reach you and wanted me to tell you to go to the Burrow to find Mr. Arthur Weasley and the others, then go together to Number 4 Privet Drive to pick up Harry Potter and take him to 12 Grimmauld Place."

Hearing this, Sean immediately thought that most likely the Dementor attack on Harry had occurred, resulting in Harry using the Patronus Charm and being warned by the Ministry.

However, Sean was somewhat puzzled. This time, he and Dumbledore were the ones who witnessed Voldemort's return, so why was Fudge still targeting Harry?

Of course, aside from the questions, he still needed to act.

"Aldrich, please stay here and chat with my father. He's been wanting to see you."

"Yes, Young Master. You can leave everything here to me."

Nodding, patting Aldrich's shoulder, Sean drank some Polyjuice Potion and left.

In Devon, England, outside Ottery St. Catchpole, stood a magically constructed dwelling.

Outside the building were a pigpen and a chicken coop. The entire crooked structure had six floors, with a red roof topped by four or five chimneys. It was quite a distinctive sight.

Following the address, Sean Apparated to the location. When he rang the doorbell outside the yard, ear-splitting trumpet sounds blared both inside and outside the house.

Soon, two identical figures Apparated in quick succession before Sean. They looked at him, momentarily stunned, then immediately opened the yard gate. "Welcome to the Burrow..."

"Sean!"

Looking at the Weasley twins, Sean smiled, feeling no animosity toward them. "I received a message from Professor Dumbledore to come here and find your father, Mr. Arthur Weasley."

Before the twins could respond, a familiar voice suddenly called out.

"Since you're here, come in quickly. We should leave now."

The voice preceded its owner.

Seeing Professor Moody emerge from the Burrow, Sean smiled as he entered the yard and shook hands with him. "Professor Moody, you're here too."

"Not just me. Kingsley, Tonks, Lupin, and several others are here. We were just waiting for you."

Professor Moody put his arm around Sean's shoulders and walked him into the Burrow.

Last term, after Sean became Moody's teaching assistant, their relationship had grown quite close. Later, when Moody learned Sean was an Order member, he became even more welcoming. After Sean faced Voldemort directly in the third round of the tournament, Moody's warmth toward him had intensified considerably.

Entering the Burrow, Sean saw many familiar and unfamiliar faces. Familiar ones like Lupin and Sirius, though their relationship was strained at best. As for the unfamiliar ones, I'll learn who they are eventually.

"Well, I won't bother with introductions," Moody said. "You'll get to know everyone soon enough. Next, we'll form a team to pick up Harry and take him to Grimmauld Place, the Order's headquarters. The others will head there first."

"Who's on our team, Professor Moody?"

As soon as Sean spoke, Lupin walked over. "Because you and Moody are very strong, we only selected five people: you, Moody, me, Kingsley, and Nymphadora..."

"Call me Tonks, Remus!"

"All right." Lupin looked at Tonks with her violet hair and nodded helplessly, then turned to Sean. "The five of us will pick up Harry. If we encounter anything on the way, we must protect Harry."

"No problem, I understand."

"Aren't you curious about what method we'll use to transport Harry?"

"Side-Along Apparition is dangerous, the Floo Network is under Ministry surveillance, unauthorized Portkeys are also risky. Thinking it through, that leaves broomsticks, and Harry's quite good at flying."

"Exactly right. Broomsticks it is. So, pay up, Lupin!"

Seeing Moody extend his hand to Lupin, Sean immediately realized they'd bet on whether he'd figure out the transportation method.

At this moment, Sirius walked over to Lupin, placed a Galleon in Moody's hand, then grinned at Moody. "This is from Remus."

Sean could tell Sirius wanted to speak with him, but Sean didn't acknowledge him, only saying to Moody, "Professor Moody, can we leave now?"

"Of course, we're leaving right now. Let's go to Privet Drive!"