Chapter 131: New Neighbor

"I am your new neighbor." Murphy said gently, "My name is Murphy Darkholm, you can call me Murphy."

"Murphy!" Fred and George exclaimed, "I knew it was him."

"Ron, go call Mom!"

Not long after, a plump middle-aged woman wearing an apron walked out of the Burrow, carrying a spatula in her hand.

She looked at Murphy somewhat blankly. "Sir? Is there anything you need help with?"

"Oh, I am your new neighbor, Murphy, Murphy Darkholm." Murphy said, stepping forward and handing over the flowers in his hand. "My friend told me that the Weasley family lives near here, so I came to visit."

"Oh! My god!" Molly took the flowers, somewhat flattered. "You are so thoughtful, sir. I haven't received flowers for many years."

"Especially flowers sent by a handsome wizard." One of the twins giggled.

Molly blushed and glared at him. "Watch your butt, George, see if I don't open it up like a flower later."

"But I'm Fred, Mom."

"Sorry, George, I didn't mean to hit you…"

"But I'm Fred, Mom, George lied to you…"

"Oh! You two little devils!"

Molly was made very awkward by the two little devils, and Murphy also felt it was a bit funny. This pair of twins really had some humorous talent.

"If it's inconvenient, I'll come again next time?"

"No, no, no," Molly felt very embarrassed. "My house is too messy, but if you don't mind, come in and have a cup of tea."

After entering the house, Murphy found that what Molly said about it being messy wasn't modesty.

The Weasley house was indeed too messy.

The living and dining room on the first floor was filled with furniture, everywhere were storage racks and small boards, filled with all kinds of small objects. A large dining table occupied a large space, with nine chairs placed next to it, and in the corner were several stacked stools.

The open kitchen on one side was even more messy, with all kinds of basins and jars and stacks of bowls, and pots of various sizes piled into a small mountain.

Fortunately, wizards didn't need extra open flames, stoves, etc., to cook, otherwise this house would likely have been burned down easily.

But thinking that seven children of all sizes lived here, the house not turning into a garbage dump could already be considered Molly being very hardworking and tidy.

"Sorry, Arthur is not at home. He took Bill and Charlie to Romania. Charlie wants to manage dragons after graduation, and Arthur is seeing if he can find an acquaintance to help introduce him."

Molly said, handing Murphy a cup of tea.

Although the Weasley family was looked down upon by various wizarding families who called themselves nobles, their long history and extensive connections were not fake. Not to mention that the British wizarding world was full of Weasley relatives, even abroad, the Weasley family had quite a few old relatives they could contact.

"Ah, actually I also run a business related to magical creatures, but animals like dragons are still too dangerous, we haven't gotten involved yet."

Murphy took a sip of tea.

And cautiously put it down.

"Who says it isn't!" Molly said with some sorrow: "If you ask me, it would be great to get a stable job at the Ministry of Magic, but whether it's Bill or Charlie, they are not like Arthur at all, they all insist on doing those dangerous jobs! Making me worry every day!"

Bill worked at Gringotts, and his job was a Curse-Breaker.

His work content was basically digging up ancient tombs, often facing various magical traps, which was indeed very dangerous.

But speaking of being adventurous, your husband isn't exactly a saint either.

The two chatted for a good while, during which Ginny came over and gave Murphy a small cake.

And Ron and the twins were eavesdropping on the side for a good while, until they found that they were all very ordinary topics, and the twins left in disappointment. "Isn't someone saying he's a Black Wizard? How does he not look scary at all?"

Ron was wondering if he could use his mother's wand to try the spell his brothers taught, but Scabbers seemed to feel bored too, running out of his arms.

Murphy had been paying attention to the movement here, and at this moment suddenly frowned. "Sorry, Mrs. Weasley, may I borrow your bathroom?"

"Oh, oh, of course, Mr. Murphy." Molly hurriedly pointed the way for Murphy. "Second room on the left in front, shall I take you there?"

"No, no, no need." Murphy declined the other party's kindness, walked into the toilet, locked the door, then cast an Illusion Body Spell on himself, and then Apparated to outside the Burrow.

He walked to a corner, and sure enough, he saw a fat gray rat there. It seemed to be asleep, its two front paws still holding a piece of cheese.

"A piece of cheese with stuff added can catch you… you really have turned into a rat, Peter."

Murphy picked up the rat and put it into an Undetectable Extension Charm bag, then grabbed another gray rat that looked similar from it, holding it in one hand and Apparating back to the toilet.

Then he pressed the flush button, pretending he had used the toilet, then shouted, "Ah! What is that! A rat! There's a rat!"

Then there was a clattering sound.

The Weasley family heard the movement and all came out to look. Molly hurriedly came to the side of the toilet. "Mr. Murphy? Mr. Murphy? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, there was a rat, oh! I caught you, little thing!"

"Mom, it's Scabbers, don't let him hurt Scabbers!" Ron shouted.

Molly understood as soon as she heard, hurriedly patting the door. "Mr. Murphy, that's our pet, please don't…"

But before she finished speaking, the toilet door was opened, and Murphy was holding the big rat that was actually already old. "I found this little guy in the toilet, is it your pet?"

"Scabbers!" Ron grabbed the rat, held it in his arms, and stroked it desperately.

The rat struggled to run, but Ron held it tightly. "It must be scared to death."

"Sorry, I didn't know it was a pet…" Murphy looked apologetic.

"Oh, it's okay, don't mind it," Molly said, "Sometimes I also treat him as an ordinary rat. This is Scabbers, Percy's pet, but he's going to be in the fourth year when school starts, and he didn't want to take a pet to school, so he gave it to Ron."

"Also thank you for helping us find it, this little guy often runs around."

As if to confirm Molly's words, the rat suddenly jumped out of Ron's arms and drilled into a corner and disappeared.

"Scabbers!"

Ron shouted anxiously, not noticing that it was no longer his pet.

After all, who would look closely at a gray-haired rat?

"Thank you for the tea, Mrs. Weasley, it's nice to meet you, I still have some things to do, I must leave."

Having gotten Scabbers, Murphy said goodbye and left.

Molly also enthusiastically invited him to come again next time and have a good chat with Arthur.

Murphy agreed, "I have always admired Mr. Weasley's work, and I have also done quite a bit of research on Muggles, looking forward to meeting again."

Returning to Diagon Alley, Murphy found Rita Skeeter, who was interviewing the Watcher Security Shop, and handed Scabbers to Branco Lloyd, whom she was interviewing, letting this retired Auror hold the rat and take a few photos.

Although the latter and Rita didn't quite understand what this was for, they didn't raise any objections to the boss's behavior.

A few reports with front-facing photos of Scabbers appeared in the Daily Prophet just like that.

Then Murphy went to find Minister of Magic Millicent, requesting to personally visit his parents' graves and bring their remains back to the old house for burial.

Because the Darkholm couple died in Azkaban, they were buried on the island. Murphy wanted to visit the graves, so naturally he had to go to the island. Although Millicent felt it was a bit troublesome, she didn't want to offend the big donor of the Ministry of Magic, so she found an excuse and took him to inspect the magical prison together.

When going to the island, Murphy happened to bring a few newspapers.

So three days later, news came out of Azkaban.

Sirius had escaped from prison.

(End of this chapter) ===== CHAPTER 132 =====