Harry Potter and the Hidden Treasure (Volume 3)

Chapter 442 Plans To Communicate With Hermione

Come on, Evan! Fred suddenly exclaimed. I'll show you around upstairs!

Yes, we'll show you where you'll be sleeping! George chimed in, winking at Evan.

YOU STAY WHERE YOU ARE! Mrs. Weasley growled.

Fred and George stood frozen, looking dejected.

Evan, Harry, and Ron exchanged glances. They carefully exited the kitchen sideways, with Hermione and Ginny following them.

They ventured down the narrow hallway and ascended the rickety, zigzagging staircase towards the upper floors.

What's really going on? Harry asked.

Fred and George got caught by Mum, and they were way too careless! Ron whispered. Mum found heaps of Galleons while cleaning Fred and George's room!

Galleons?!

Yes, Professor Lupin sent them a hundred! Ron looked at Evan. I never knew they made so much money because of your help and the items they sold in the shop.

At the sight of such a large sum of money, Mum got scared, Ginny said. She began questioning them where they got it from. She thought they had stolen it from somewhere, and they had an argument all night.

Fred and George intended to keep it a secret, but eventually they had to spill it. They told Mum that the money was from your help and initial investment in their research career. Ron told Evan, You'd better watch out. Before you arrived, Mum had mentioned it countless times. She seemed very dissatisfied with your aid in their research.

Evan swallowed hard, recalling Mrs. Weasley's wrath.

Oh, goodness, Evan, you've been helping Fred and George with these things! Hermione exclaimed, I always thought you spent all your newspaper money on serious things, like buying magical potions...

Most of it goes towards that, but there was some left, and I gave it to... Fred and... George...

Under Hermione's gaze, Evan's voice trailed off.

Things seemed to be getting more complicated. Hermione looked even angrier than before.

Hermione was upset simply because Evan hadn't stopped Fred and George from playing pranks on Dudley. It was only now that she suddenly realized Evan was behind the entire incident.

Seeing Hermione's expression, Evan knew nothing would justify it.

Mum is blowing it out of proportion. I've seen their supply list, and all the stuff up there is very interesting. Ron didn't notice Hermione's anomaly and said carelessly, Steep prices for things they've invented. Joke items, you know; fake wands and trick sweets... a bunch of stuff. They've put a lot of work into this...

I thought they were just making some sweets, and the Sneakoscope was really good! Ginny said. We've been hearing explosions from their room. I thought they just liked the noise!

Listening to both, Hermione's face grew even uglier.

She shot Evan an angry look, furrowing her brow deeply, pondering something unknown.

Of course, Mum is right. Most of what they do is hazardous, Ron said. She went ballistic that night. She found all of Fred and George's storerooms and burnt them down, warning them not to do it anymore. Since that day, she's been furious with them all the time, and their OWL grades have disappointed her too.

The OWLs were the Ordinary Wizarding Levels, the exams Hogwarts students took at fifteen years old.

For young wizards, they were crucial.

Only with sufficient certificates and achievements could they continue their higher years at Hogwarts.

This was a vital exam that would influence future employment and professional development and must not be ignored.

Because of their poor results, they argued again and caused quite a ruckus! Ginny said, Mum wants them to go to the Ministry of Magic in the future, like Dad, but they told her all they want to do is open a joke shop.

I heard that, do you know how Mum reacted to that?! Ron added, She said if that happened, she would sever all ties with them and never care about them again.

Upon hearing this, Evan already felt somewhat guilty.

If Fred, George, and Mrs. Weasley were at odds over this, then he was the true culprit.

Hermione seemed to share the same sentiment. She had been steadfastly gazing at Evan the whole time.

Despite the pressure, Evan continued to believe it was the correct way to allow Fred and George to carry on with their research.

Both of them had great potential in this regard. With the introduction of practical technology, they could create a myriad of truly powerful magical objects instead of the prank items used by young wizards.

By then, their shop would not only be a joke shop but would ascend as a giant in the wizarding world.

Their future plan had already been outlined, and just contemplating it was exhilarating.

Of course, before that, they needed to persuade Mrs. Weasley and Hermione to support them.

Mrs. Weasley mentioned that as long as Fred and George achieved sufficient results, she might agree.

Regarding Hermione, it was primarily a matter for Evan!

It seemed he needed to find time to thoroughly communicate with Hermione...

Just as Evan was pondering on how to persuade Hermione, a door on the second-floor platform opened.

A face peered out wearing horn-rimmed glasses and a very displeased look.

"Hello, Percy!" Harry stood by the door and greeted swiftly.

"Oh, it's me, hello!" Percy said, then noticed Evan standing in the background. His eyes lit up, "Evan, where were you at the end of last term? You missed my graduation ceremony, and I got hired by the Ministry of Magic!"

"Congratulations!" Evan replied promptly.

"Thank you!" Percy said proudly, his gaze shifting to Ron. "I was wondering who was making so much noise. I'm trying to work here, you know? I have a report to finish for the office, and it's quite challenging to concentrate when people are stomping up and down the stairs like thunder."

"We're not making that much noise." Under Percy's scrutinizing gaze, Ron looked irritated. He muttered under his breath, "We're just walking. Apologies if we've disrupted the ultra-secret work for the Ministry of Magic."