Chapter 825: Chapter 710: Kael’s Decision (Part 3)
"But Minister, is this really appropriate?"
"Don’t worry about it. We all know that kind of exam is nothing for you, isn’t it?"
...
After Fudge returned to his office with the report, Kael took the lift and headed to the Apparition Hall for Ministry of Magic staff.
By the time Kael arrived at Grimmauld Place, the sky was already showing a faint hint of light.
At this hour, Kael thought everyone would be asleep, but when he pushed open the door, he saw the lights were still on inside.
"It’s alright, Dad—it’s just Kael who’s back."
Bill poked his head out of a room. "Come eat something, or Fred and George will finish it all soon."
"Hey, Bill! You exaggerate. Clearly Charlie eats more!"
Hearing there was food, Kael hurried over.
The room with the lights on was the kitchen. Aside from Sirius, everyone who’d returned was here. On the table were a few bottles of wine, some bread, a plate of corn chips, and a platter of cured beef.
"Well, did you find out anything useful?" Mr. Weasley pushed the bread toward Kael.
"I don’t know," Kael said. "I was writing reports the whole time, never went to the interrogation room. But—I doubt the Aurors could get anything useful out of them."
"Why?" Charlie looked puzzled.
"Of those Death Eaters caught, do you recognize any of them?" Kael asked.
Charlie thought for a moment, then shook his head.
He’d seen them earlier—they were all unfamiliar faces. Not a single person he knew.
"That’s exactly why," Kael picked up a piece of bread. "Except for Antonin Dolohov, the ones who came to Diagon Alley this time were probably just here for numbers, to make trouble. Breaking stuff they’re good at, but I doubt they know anything important."
"Pity Dolohov got away," Mr. Weasley said, sounding disappointed.
The Aurors who went after him lost Dolohov’s trail deep in Knockturn Alley and came back empty-handed.
"Can’t help it, he’s more familiar with Knockturn Alley than we are," Charlie said. "Kael, want some brandy?"
Kael was past his seventeenth birthday and could drink legally, but looking at the corn chips and cured beef on the table, he hesitated.
Compared to drinking, he’d rather have something to eat.
Right then, the House-elf Kreacher came over, asking earnestly, "Master Kael, would you like something for supper?"
Kael glanced at the dwindling cured beef and corn chips, hesitated, then nodded. "Just a few sandwiches, Kreacher. Thank you."
"It is Kreacher’s honor!" the Little Elf shrieked, his face lit up with excitement as he dashed cheerfully into the kitchen.
"Oh, keep it down," Fred reminded from the side. "Mom’s been worried all night and finally got to sleep. Hope that didn’t wake her."
"Sorry," Kael said. "I forgot House-elves sometimes get a little too excited."
"Not your fault," George said. "But I don’t get it—why wasn’t that Little Elf this attentive when we got back?"
"Yeah, he wouldn’t even find us a cup."
The two complained about how the House-elf treated them differently, but Mr. Weasley didn’t find it strange.
He’d already learned about Regulus from Sirius. As the Black family’s House-elf, naturally Kreacher would be especially eager for Kael. Nothing odd about that.
While they waited, Kael suddenly thought of something and asked, "Mr. Weasley, do you know why the Death Eaters wanted to capture Fosco?"
"No idea, probably just a mistake," Mr. Weasley thought for a second, "Or maybe somehow offended them."
"Or maybe said You-Know-Who’s name," Bill offered.
Barring that, they couldn’t imagine why the Death Eaters would go to so much trouble just to snatch up an ice cream shop owner.
They chatted for a bit longer, and soon Kreacher returned—not only with the sandwiches Kael had asked for, but also fried potatoes, grilled sausages, and a whole roast chicken.
Seeing this, Fred and George felt even more slighted. They decided to turn their resentment into appetite, grabbing sausages and stuffing them into their mouths.
Kreacher watched them from the side, his expression sour, but the two didn’t care at all. Fred even shot him a smug eyebrow raise as he grabbed a second sausage.
"I finally get why Kreacher can’t stand you two," Kael said with a grin.
