Inside the door, a thick, almost tangible smell of decay permeated the air.
It was a mixture of years of damp dust, mildew, and a deeper, more spiritual sense of decline.
The light was dim, barely revealing a narrow corridor lined with faded portraits whose eyes seemed to turn silently in the shadows.
"Welcome to this old place," Tonks said with self-deprecation, closing the door behind her and shutting out the street outside.
The door shut with a "thud," and the gas lamp in the corridor, flickering with weak magic, wavered violently, stretching everyone's shadows into grotesque shapes.
Lia's hand instinctively reached out, only to be caught and pressed down by Hermione's fingers.
Her senses were infinitely amplified in this house; every inch of air was filled with a suffocating malice.
In her eyes, this house wasn't just rotting; it was like a trap full of poisonous thorns, every line interwoven with resentment and curses.
Strangely, amidst the darkness of the curses, there was a thread of noble gold, its scent somewhat similar to Harry's godfather.
"Keep it down," Tonks lowered her voice, pointing to a large portrait at the end of the corridor covered by heavy velvet curtains. "Don't wake the old lady, or we're all finished."
Before she could finish, a sharp, venomous woman's screech came from behind the curtains.
"—Scum! Filth! My pure and noble house of blood, defiled by the likes of you mudbloods, half-bloods, and werewolves! Get out! All of you, get out!"
The voice was filled with a madness like glass scraping, and the curtains shook violently, as if something were trying to break free from within.
The figures in the other portraits along the corridor also grew restless, hurling various insults and curses at them.
A figure rushed out from a door leading to the basement; it was Sirius Black.
He looked more haggard than when he was at Hogwarts, but those grey eyes remained sharp.
He rushed over skillfully, grabbed both sides of the curtains, and pulled them shut with force.
"Shut up, you venomous old hag!" he growled under his breath, engaging in a silent struggle with his mother in the painting.
The screaming was muffled behind the fabric, but the venomous atmosphere lingered for a long time.
"Welcome, Hermione," Sirius said, turning around after dealing with the curtains, a tired smile forced onto his face.
When he saw Lia, the smile instantly became much more sincere. "And Lia, my little hero, it's good to see you."
Lia tilted her head and smiled at Sirius in response.
But her attention was completely drawn by the more complex scents coming from the basement kitchen.
"Come on down, children, ignore her," a warm, kind voice called out. Mrs. Weasley poked her head out from the kitchen doorway, her apron stained with flour. When she saw Hermione and Lia, her face immediately lit up with a warm smile.
"Oh, Hermione, dear! And Lia! Come quickly, I've saved some meat pies for you!"
She walked over without a word, gave Hermione a firm hug, and then her gaze turned incredibly soft when she looked at Lia.
Molly Weasley genuinely adored this little girl who looked so well-behaved and lovable.
"My sweetheart, you must be exhausted from the journey. Come in and eat something." She naturally took Lia's hand and led them toward the kitchen.
Lia obediently let herself be pulled along, down a few stone steps and into the basement kitchen, which was also dimly lit but filled with the aroma of food.
A long wooden table was already filled with people.
Ron, Fred, George, and Ginny all smiled when they saw them enter.
Moody was scanning the ceiling warily with his magical eye, while Remus Lupin nodded to them with a smile.
"Hermione! Lia!" Ron waved his hand excitedly.
"The Cat Girl couple has finally arrived!" Fred and George cried out in unison.
Hermione pulled Lia to sit in the empty seats next to Ron and Ginny.
Mrs. Weasley had already brought over steaming pies and butterbeer.
Lia, however, didn't touch the food in front of her.
She just sat quietly, her snowy-white cat ears twitching slightly, her long silver hair flowing like moonlight in the dim light.
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