Chapter 93
Michael had fainted, overwhelmed by the sheer pain coursing through his body.
Albert paid him no mind, knowing well that he would wake up soon. There was no need to linger and watch over him.
"I suppose my father has been out of this forest for some time now," Albert murmured to himself.
He walked a few steps, noticing minor injuries on both his hands and his stomach—small wounds caused by deflecting Michael's powerful fire spell. These scratches were nothing to Albert; he simply used the Episki charm, a spell that allowed him to heal minor injuries with ease.
"Ugh… I'm hungry now. I should head home," he said.
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One Month Later
At the Weasley household, the dining table hosted a new guest: Harry Potter.
He had taken a one-day leave from his aunt's house to spend time with his friend, Ron Weasley.
Mrs. Weasley placed a plate in front of Harry—two pieces of grilled fish with mayonnaise, ketchup, and a small piece of onion.
"Oh, dear, don't be shy. Eat the whole plate! I don't want my cooking to go to waste," she said warmly.
Harry took a fork, dipping a piece of bread into the fish, chewing thoughtfully.
"Don't worry, ma'am. I'll finish this—it's delicious. But first… where's Ron?" he asked.
Mrs. Weasley replied that Ron was in his room changing clothes and would join them shortly.
Upstairs, Ron had finished changing and was heading for the door when he was startled by a tiny mouse under the frame.
"Oh, John! You're finally back!" Ron exclaimed, scooping up the mouse and hugging it tightly.
"Why did you leave me last time? I didn't think you'd return. I'm so happy you're back," he said, carrying John toward the dining room.
Excited, Ron called down to his sister, Ginny, as he descended the stairs.
"Ginny! Ginny! John is back!"
Ginny, seated at the table, glanced briefly at Harry as he ate. Their eyes met for a fleeting moment, and Ginny felt her cheeks flush. She quickly excused herself, blushing as she passed by.
"Ah… she's shy again. Is it because she saw Harry?" Ron muttered, shrugging. "Well, it's not my business."
Finally, Ron reached the dining table, noticing his father, Arthur Weasley, reading the newspaper with unusual seriousness.
Fred and George exchanged worried glances. "Dad! What's wrong? Did something bad happen?"
Arthur looked up gravely. "He's escaped… He really has escaped."
The newspaper slipped from Arthur's hands and was picked up by Harry, who read the headline:
> "Escape of one of the most dangerous prisoners from Azkaban: Sirius Black. Citizens are urged to stay clear and report any information about this individual. A reward of 300 gold Galleons is offered for useful information. Contact: xxxxxx"
Harry and Ron exchanged puzzled glances. The seriousness on Arthur's face only deepened their curiosity.
Harry's mind raced. He recognized the surname: Black. This meant the escaped prisoner was likely a relative of his close friend, Albert Black.
"Ron! Isn't Albert's last name Black? Does this mean the fugitive is someone from his family?" Harry asked, shocked.
Ron nodded. "Oh, I almost forgot. Remember our first meeting with Albert? You said you didn't hear him well because your mind was distracted. He told us his father was imprisoned unjustly and his mother died when he was very young."
Mrs. Weasley's expression softened with sympathy.
"Oh, that poor child… his mother died young, and his father was imprisoned unfairly. His childhood must have been so difficult. Next time, Ron, invite your friend over for lunch, okay?" she said kindly.
"Yes, Mum," Ron replied.
Fred, ever curious, asked, "But Dad, we've never seen you this serious. What exactly did this person do?"
Arthur's gaze lingered on Harry, so intense that it made him uncomfortable. Finally, he sighed.
"This person, Sirius Black, was once affiliated with the Death Eaters. That's why the Ministry captured him," Arthur explained.
Everyone, except Mrs. Molly Weasley, was stunned by this revelation.
Only Arthur and Molly truly knew these details—Arthur through his work at the Ministry investigating magical and natural disasters, and Molly from her time with the Order of the Phoenix. It made sense that Arthur had such precise information so easily.
To be contined ...