By the time Dumbledore brought Eda back to St. Catchpole Village, it was already evening. Newt and Tina had invited them to stay for dinner. Perhaps because of Dumbledore's presence, Newt was particularly talkative, eagerly sharing stories from his travels with Eda.
Newt's tales, along with his descriptions of the magical creatures he had encountered, fascinated Eda, who had seen little of the magical world. She listened, utterly captivated, and even began to look forward to her upcoming Care of Magical Creatures class in the next term.
The night in St. Catchpole was especially peaceful. As they walked along the road, Eda chatted with Dumbledore about Quirrell.
Eda believed that Dumbledore's wisdom, comparable to Einstein's in the Muggle world, could help her make sense of her concerns about Quirrell. It was also a chance to subtly warn Dumbledore and remind him to keep an eye on Quirrell.
Eda recounted Quirrell's behavior at the Leaky Cauldron and shared her thoughts. She concluded, "Professor, don't you think Quirrell is acting really strange? I feel like he's plotting something big, just like Fowly did."
"It's Professor Quirrell, Eda. He will be your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher next term," Dumbledore gently corrected. "But you're right — Quirinus's behavior is indeed peculiar, and it's perfectly reasonable for you to think so."
"Am I being too suspicious? Is Professor Quirrell really just… eccentric?" Eda wavered slightly in her convictions.
After dealing with both Fowly and Cecil, Eda had developed a deep distrust and prejudice against anyone holding the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor position. It wasn't entirely unfounded, though — both of her previous professors had dug metaphorical pits, and Eda had fallen right into them.
Dumbledore gently patted Eda's head, like a kind elder offering comfort. He said softly, "On the contrary, your observations and thoughts are completely valid — because I think the same."
"When did you start suspecting that Quirrell might be a problem?" Eda asked, curious about how Dumbledore had noticed and whether he had made any preparations.
"You should still address Quirinus as 'Professor' for now," Dumbledore corrected Eda once again before continuing, "I can't say I know every student inside and out, but intelligent students like him tend to leave an impression. His unusual behavior didn't escape my notice."
"I'm also trying to understand you," Dumbledore added with a gentle smile. "For instance, right now, you're probably thinking about telling the Weasley twins about my suspicions, aren't you? And no, I didn't use Legilimency to read your mind!"
"That's true," Eda admitted straightforwardly, without a trace of hesitation. "So, what are you planning to do about Quirrell—uh, Professor Quirrell?"
"I've made thorough preparations; it will be a splendid plan," Dumbledore said confidently. Then, shifting his tone slightly, he added, "However, I would actually prefer it if Quirinus came to me on his own. That would save a lot of trouble, and I might even be able to help him resolve his problems."
"You seem to enjoy giving people a chance to make amends," Eda remarked, puzzled. She knew that if she possessed Dumbledore's level of power, she wouldn't hesitate — she would act decisively without thinking twice about offering second chances.
Dumbledore lifted his head, gazing at the night sky. After a moment, he said softly, "That's another story — a long one. I'll tell it to you another time if we get the chance."
"By the way," he added, his eyes twinkling, "once the school year starts, I may have a few things I'll need your help with. So for now, enjoy the rest of your summer holiday!"
With that, Dumbledore Disapparated, leaving Eda behind, staring at the starry sky, lost in thought.
Was the long story Dumbledore mentioned related to Voldemort? Or perhaps Grindelwald?
...
The lights at the Burrow were still glowing.
In the living room, Percy was chasing after the twins, who were passing his prefect badge back and forth like a game of catch. Ron and Ginny clapped and laughed at the sight, while Mr. Weasley watched them with a gentle smile.
Mrs. Weasley stood at the door, calling Eda's name softly. A gentle breeze swept through the garden, and Eda walked with light steps. There was an undeniable warmth in the air, as if this night was filled with all the tenderness the world had to offer.
On Wednesday morning, Mrs. Weasley woke up all the children early.
Today, they were going to Diagon Alley to buy school supplies.
No one knew what solution Mr. Weasley had come up with, but it was clear that he had managed to sort everything out.
One by one, they traveled to Diagon Alley using the Floo Network. The flowerpot at the Burrow still had plenty of Floo Powder, as Mrs. Weasley and Eda often restocked it. In fact, the two of them used the Floo Network the most in the family.
They had thought they were early, but when they arrived, the wide streets of Diagon Alley were already crowded. Adult wizards, young students, and all sorts of magical folk bustled along the cobblestone streets.
Mr. Weasley took Percy to Eeylops Owl Emporium to buy him an owl — a reward for earning his prefect badge. Meanwhile, Mrs. Weasley led the twins and Ron to Madam Malkin's for new robes, as Fred and George had outgrown theirs. Eda, on the other hand, took little Ginny to the second-hand bookstore.
Eda crouched down, carefully selecting used books, while Ginny stood beside her, reading from the school supply list.
Eda was a frequent customer at this second-hand shop, but unfortunately, the shopkeeper had never given her any discounts.
After some searching, Eda pulled out a copy of "The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection" by Quentin Trimble, which Ron would need for his Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
Of course, the first-year shopping list included more than just that one book. However, standard textbooks like "The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1" and "A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration" could easily be passed down from Ron's older brothers.
But there was no such luck when it came to the Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook.
The problem was that Defense Against the Dark Arts professors were practically disposable — none of them lasted long. With a new professor every year, each one chose their own set of textbooks, making it impossible to rely on hand-me-downs.
Eda continued rummaging through the pile of old books, this time searching for the textbooks the twins would need.
She had already bought her own supplies. Since she worked at the Leaky Cauldron, it was easy to slip away during a break and pick up everything she needed.
After a while, Mrs. Weasley arrived at the second-hand bookstore with the twins and Ron. However, only she and Ron came inside. Fred and George lingered by the entrance, waving at Eda and signaling her to come out.
Handing Ginny and the selected books over to Mrs. Weasley, Eda dusted off her hands and stepped outside. "Why not come in? It's your books we're picking out, after all," she said, raising an eyebrow.
"Dad took Percy to Eeylops Owl Emporium…" Fred said with a grim expression.
"He might even buy Percy a brand-new robe," George added, seamlessly continuing his twin's sentence.
Eda nodded. "I know. So, what's your point?"
"Ron's got nothing but hand-me-downs — Bill's old robes, our old textbooks…" Fred sighed dramatically.
"He might even have to use an old wand — you've seen Charlie's old wand before, haven't you?" George said, his eyes fixed on Ron through the second-hand store window.
Eda reached out with both hands and touched the twins' foreheads. "Are you two sick or something? Since when are you this concerned about your little brother?"
Fred and George swatted her hands away, their voices in perfect unison. "We're perfectly fine! Just… a little uncomfortable about it."
The start of a new school year was always the most expensive, and with Percy becoming a prefect this year, he deserved a reward. Given the Weasleys' financial situation, it was clear this year would be especially tough.
Poor Ron. He wasn't the eldest like Bill or the youngest like Ginny. He wasn't outstanding like Percy either. Among all the Weasley children, Ron was the easiest one to overlook. This year, he'd likely end up with nothing but hand-me-downs.
"So, what are you two planning to get him? A new robe or a new wand?" Eda asked, still watching Ron inside the shop. "I'd recommend a wand. Using an old one could really affect his learning."
Fred and George nodded vigorously, clearly agreeing. Fred sighed, his face twisted into a frown. "But there's one small problem — we're broke."
"Not completely broke," George corrected, wearing an equally pained expression. "We're just… a little short." To emphasize his point, he held up his thumb and forefinger, leaving only a tiny gap between them.
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