Chapter 247

When the three of them slipped over to the fireplace.

Mrs. Weasley, that is, Molly, was humming a tune while busily working in the kitchen.

A magical radio was playing a song, and the Weasley twins swayed their heads to the rhythm.

“Great Mr. Green, do you know what song this is?”

Fred wore an expression of “I’ll explain it to you since you asked.”

“Oh no, we’ve got to go quick—the high note’s coming!”

George urgently reminded them.

“It’s too late—George, put earplugs on Green.”

Fred put earplugs on George, then blocked his own ears before Sehn could react.

He looked toward the kitchen, puzzled:

Mrs. Weasley slightly lifted her head, as if gathering strength. With a light tap of her wand, potatoes automatically peeled and leapt into the sink, carrots lined up and hopped onto the cutting board, neatly sliced into uniform cubes. The stew pot bubbled on the stove, beef swirling in the rich broth, releasing a deep, savory aroma.

“Oh, my poor heart, where has it gone? It left me, snatched away by magic… and now you’ve torn it apart—please return my heart to me—!”

Sehn heard nothing; the earplugs seemed enchanted, but he saw even the glass cups trembling.

“There are always a few days every month…”

Fred, with earplugs firmly in place, spread his hands.

“Probably because Dad would rather bleed from his ears than admit Mom sings badly…”

George had already stepped into the fireplace.

Just in front of the fireplace stood an old but clean sofa; Sehn stood on the other side.

“Diagon Alley!”

He saw George vanish in flames.

“If Mother’s male idol is Gilderoy Lockhart, then her female idol is Cettina Wobble. She’s loved listening to Cettina Wobble’s songs since she was young—and has done so for over a decade.”

Fred said this while gesturing politely toward the fireplace.

“Great Green, we should go—but quietly.”

This was Sehn’s first time using a normal fireplace for travel; the portable one at the Alchemy Assembly hardly counted.

He paused briefly, focusing on the name “Diagon Alley,” ensuring he wouldn’t be sent to Knockturn Alley.

That place was a gathering spot for Dark Wizards—quite dangerous for a young wizard… hmm.

“Diagon Alley.”

Sehn took some Floo Powder from the bucket and vanished shortly after.

When he reappeared, the shops around him were all lit with lanterns.

“Let’s go!”

George led the way excitedly ahead,

“Ah, coming here as the shop owner is so much better than being a customer!”

“I think no one could deny that.”

Fred also emerged from the flames.

Weasley & Green Magical Prank Shop was fully renovated; above the shop door, a clown was taking off his hat—and when he did, a white rabbit popped out from inside.

The crowds had thinned; the queue had long ended, but occasionally a young wizard would walk up and sadly ask his companion:

“Has it opened yet?”

So Sehn and the others slipped in through the back door.

“Are the twenty Peruvian Invisibility Smoke Bombs ready, George?”

Fred asked.

“Of course. Thirty Tongue-Tying Toffees?”

George efficiently checked off the list.

“All set—”

“Then what about sixteen Deer Cookies, twenty-three Squirrel Cookies, one hundred thirty-six Spirit Cat Cookies, and three hundred sets of Weird Wizard Chess?”

A voice drifted softly from the unlit shop interior.

Sehn slowly turned his head—there stood Mr. Gert, his dark circles under the eyes extremely heavy.

“That much missing?!”

Fred leapt up.

Mr. Gert turned on the lights; the display windows arranged by Fred and George dazzled like a fireworks show, drawing several obsessed wizards to gather in front of the shop within moments.

“Mr. Green, if you don’t replenish stock before opening, I’ll have no choice but to resign. You’ll see what mad wizards can do—especially in Diagon Alley, where magic is unrestricted.”

Miss Gert said with a mournful tone.

“I’ll handle it.”

Fred’s face turned serious.

“And me.”

George, unusually solemn, added.

“Oh—oh?”

Miss Gert’s mood brightened instantly; she rubbed her dark circles and sat beside a row of dazzling pink products, waiting for the show to begin.

Too bad there weren’t any popcorns or anything like that… she thought, slightly disappointed.

But the next scene left her utterly stunned.

“Make some more! Great Green!”

Fred howled without hesitation, nearly screaming into Sehn’s ear.

“Great Green—!”

George frantically squeezed his eyes shut—but not a single tear fell.

Sehn was already used to the Weasley twins’ antics.

He struggled to push Fred off his legs and pulled out numerous cookie boxes from the Undetectable Extension Bag given to him by Professor McGonagall.

The Weird Wizard Chess sets had also been shrunk and stored inside.

“You always do this?”

Miss Gert asked, bewildered.

…

When they returned to the Burrow, Fred and George still couldn’t stop talking about their business plan.

“Rent for a shop in Diagon Alley is seven hundred Galleons—we could earn more than ten times that in half a year, even before opening… do you know what that means?”

Fred emerged from the fireplace.

Sehn looked behind him—there stood Mrs. Weasley, fuming.

“Shh—”

George whispered a warning.

“George, what did you say? That’s strange—it means we could fill all of Britain—Mum!”

Fred turned stiffly, forcing a cheerful, innocent tone.

“Good evening, Mum.”

“Do you have any idea how worried I was?”

Mrs. Weasley spoke in a voice that sent chills down the spine.

“Sorry, Mum, but we had to—”

Both of Mrs. Weasley’s sons were taller than her, yet when her anger erupted, they trembled.

“The room was empty! No note left! No one there… and you took Green with you… I was frantic… Have you even thought about it?

… I’ve never in my life… just wait until your father comes home and deals with you—Bill, Charlie, and Percy never did anything like this…”

“Perfect Percy.”

Fred muttered.

Mrs. Weasley stepped forward and pulled Sehn out of the fireplace.

“Poor child, Fred and George are always unreliable—don’t listen to them next time.”

“Oh, Mum, we must tell you a sad truth: if someone must listen to someone, there’s only one voice that matters—the Great Green—”

Fred made as if to kneel.

“You dare blame little Green for this?!”