Reflections - Mattheo Riddle

Chapter 4

"He's feeling pretty anti-wizard at the moment," said Bill. "He hasn't stopped raging about the Bagman business, he reckons the Ministry did a cover-up, those goblins never got their gold from him, you know —"

A gale of laughter from the middle of the table drowned the rest of Bill's words. Fred, George, Ron, and Mundungus were rolling around in their seats.

". . . and then," choked Mundungus, tears running down his face, "and then, if you'll believe it, 'e says to me, 'e says, ' 'ere, Dung, where didja get all them toads from? 'Cos some son of a Bludger's gone and nicked all mine!' And I says, 'Nicked all your toads, Will, what next? So you'll be wanting some more, then?' And if you'll believe me, lads, the gormless gargoyle buys all 'is own toads back orf me for twice what 'e paid in the first place —"

"I don't think we need to hear any more of your business dealings, thank you very much, Mundungus," said Mrs. Weasley sharply, as Ron slumped forward onto the table, howling with laughter.

"Beg pardon, Molly," said Mundungus at once, wiping his eyes and winking at Harry. "But, you know, Will nicked 'em orf Warty Harris in the first place so I wasn't really doing nothing wrong —"

"I don't know where you learned about right and wrong, Mundungus, but you seem to have missed a few crucial lessons," said Mrs. Weasley coldly.

Fred and George buried their faces in their goblets of butterbeer; George was hiccuping. For some reason, Mrs. Weasley threw a very nasty look at Sirius before getting to her feet and going to fetch a large rhubarb crumble for pudding. 

Kirra snorted while turning to the boys, "well she still hates him," she giggles

"To be fair, she doesnt exactly like pretty much half of the people here at the moment," Jasper said with a shrug, though there was a small amused smirk tugging on the corner of his lips

"I still dont even get why he's in the Order?" Theodore said very quietly, Mundungus was one of the few people there who didnt hate the three Slytherins and he didnt want to change that, but he just couldnt really understand why someone like him was in the order

"He's useful," Kirra muttered. "Knows all the crooks — well, he would, seeing as he's one himself. But he's also very loyal to Dumbledore, who helped him out of a tight spot once. It pays to have someone like Dung around, he hears things we don't. But Molly thinks inviting him to stay for dinner is going too far. She hasn't forgiven him for slipping off duty when he was supposed to be tailing my brother."

Three helpings of rhubarb crumble and custard later Kirra lay down her spoon in a lull in the general conversation. Mattheo was leaning back in his chair, looking replete and relaxed with his arm over the back of Kirra's chair, Theodore was yawning widely still occasionally picking at the food on his plate, and Jasper was sitting cross-legged on the floor, rolling butterbeer corks for Whiskers to chase.

"Nearly time for bed, I think," said Mrs. Weasley on a yawn.

"Not just yet, Molly," said Sirius, pushing away his empty plate and turning to look at Harry. "You know, I'm surprised at you. I thought the first thing you'd do when you got here would be to start asking questions about Voldemort."

The atmosphere in the room changed with the rapidity Harry associated with the arrival of dementors. Where seconds before it had been sleepily relaxed, it was now alert, even tense. A frisson had gone around the table at the mention of Voldemort's name. Lupin, who had been about to take a sip of wine, lowered his goblet slowly, looking wary.

"Pads..." KIrra mumbled softly towards her best friend

"I did!" said Harry indignantly. "I asked Kirra, Ron and Hermione but they said we're not allowed in the Order, so —"