Chapter 32: Visiting Bones Manor
Leaky Cauldron, Diagon Alley
Ronald Bilius Weasley
July 15, 1989, Saturday
Ron and Bill waited in the room for about ten more minutes. During this time, Bill sat nervously in his chair while Ron continued reading his book.
The book he was reading was called "Always Be Well-Groomed," and it contained simple spells to maintain one's appearance.
When they were about ten minutes away from their visit to Madam Bones, Ron closed his book, stood up, and said, "We should get ready, Bill."
"Yeah. You're right," Bill said, somewhat dejectedly.
"Don't let your mood drop, Bill. Just trust me," Ron said, and with a flick of his hand, his messy hair instantly straightened, became neat and well-groomed.
But he certainly wasn't like Draco Malfoy, who looked like he'd had a can of brilliantine emptied over his head.
Then, with another spell, the wrinkles in his clothes disappeared, and the dust and stains vanished. And finally, with the last spell, his shoes shone as if new.
Once he was done with himself, Ron waved his hand three more times, and this time the same process was applied to Bill.
"Ron, where did you learn these spells?" Bill asked in astonishment.
Ron then held up a book and showed it to Bill. "Of course, it's from the book I'm reading. Where else would it be?"
"But didn't you just start reading that book?" Bill asked.
"Yes. So what? The spells inside are quite easy," Ron said. Then he restored his wooden chest to its original size, put the book inside, shrank it again, and attached it to his belt.
"Bill, please don't say out loud where we're going when we use the fireplace downstairs. I don't want anyone else to know we're meeting with Madam Bones," Ron said.
"Okay, Ron. You'll use the fireplace first when the time comes. I'll come from behind and make sure no one is eavesdropping," Bill said.
"Okay," Ron replied.
Actually, he knew how to cast the Muffliato Charm. But it was one of Severus Snape's original spells, and not many people knew this spell. If the Hogwarts Materials he obtained from the system hadn't contained this spell, Ron wouldn't have known it either.
That's why Ron didn't want to use this spell at the moment, and after Mr. Tonks' warning, he thought it would be better not to use magic in public at least until he got his Crafter License.
Then Ron and Bill left the room and went downstairs to the pub section of the Leaky Cauldron.
Bill went to Tom to return the room key, while Ron went to the public fireplace and stood beside it, waiting. A few seconds later, Bill joined him, and together they waited for the agreed-upon time.
A few minutes later, when the spell showed 6 pm after Bill cast the Tempus Spell, Ron reached into the pouch Bill offered him, took a handful of floo powder, and began to walk towards the fireplace.
Before leaving the house, Bill had taken a pouch of floo powder with him for the day, so they didn't have to get any from Tom.
Ron entered the fireplace and whispered "Bones Manor," then paused for a moment before saying the password "Unannounced Guests." He then threw the floo powder at his feet and disappeared with the emerald flames.
As Ron stepped out of the fireplace, he was greeted by a large sitting room and a middle-aged woman waiting in the center with a wand in her hand.
Ron immediately recognized her as Amelia Bones from the films. However, she looked somewhat younger than the Amelia Bones seen in the films. But this was quite normal considering Amelia Bones appeared for the first time in the fourth film. Almost six years from today.
Ron noticed the wand Madam Bones held in one hand and rested in the other, and that she was positioned further away from the fireplace than usual for welcoming guests, but he accepted this as normal.
After all, the people who had requested this meeting were two strangers she didn't know, and they had specifically requested to meet here. It was perfectly normal for someone like Madam Bones to be on alert in such a situation.
So, after smiling at Madam Bones, Ron cast a wandless spell to cleanse himself of the chimney soot. But when he saw one of Amelia Bones' eyebrows raise, he realized he had made a mistake.
'Perhaps it would be better if I didn't cast any spells in front of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, since I'm forbidden from doing magic,' he thought, but then added, 'Anyway. If things get to that point, I'll play the innocent child card.'
The next moment, the fireplace burst into emerald flames again. Then Bill stepped out and stood beside Ron.
Now that everyone was here, Ron thought he could proceed to the next stage and said, "Good evening, Madam Bones. I am Ronald Bilius Weasley. Please excuse our sudden request for a meeting at such short notice."
"It was indeed a sudden and inappropriate request," Madam Bones said, then turned to Bill and spoke. "You must be House Weasley's heir apparent and the one who requested this meeting."
"Yes, ma'am. William Arthur Weasley. Thank you for your hospitality. As you said, I am the heir apparent of House Weasley, but it was my brother Ronald who requested this meeting," Bill said.
"Yes, he made it clear in his letter. A request for a meeting within half an hour, along with other inappropriate demands, such as the meeting taking place at Bones Manor," Madam Bones said coldly, then glared at them sharply.
Meanwhile, Bill broke out in a cold sweat, while Ron waited with a calm smile on his face.
"You seem quite calm, Mr. Ronald Weasley, for someone who has made so many inappropriate demands," Madam Amelia Bones finally said, breaking the silence again.
"Hmm? I know this is a rather hasty request, ma'am. But I also don't think you agreed to this meeting to scold us and send us away," Ron said.
"Perhaps that's exactly why I agreed to this meeting," Madam Bones said.
"Someone of your status and position will certainly not turn away guests from a meeting you've accepted. And I'm sure that after listening to me, you'll think you're glad you accepted this meeting," Ron said.
"Oh? You seem quite confident, young man," Madam Bones said.
"That's because I am quite confident, ma'am," Ron replied with a mischievous smile.
"Good. At least that means I won't be wasting the time I normally spend with my family. And you're right. I certainly wouldn't turn away guests whom I've agreed to meet as soon as they arrive," Madam Bones said, gesturing towards the sofas in the living room.
Bill breathed a sigh of relief, and the two of them began to move towards the sofas Madam Bones had indicated. Meanwhile, Ron, with another swift wandless magic, cleaned the soot from Bill's face and clothes.
Bill had been quite nervous since stepping into the room and had even forgotten to clean the soot off himself.
Bill and Ron sat down on a two-seater sofa, after which Madam Bones sat on another two-seater sofa opposite them. A large occasional table was placed between them.
Madam Bones sat down and said, "Pilpy," and with a pop, Pilpy appeared and said, "Yes, Madam Bones."
"Please bring us tea and snacks," said Madam Bones.
"Pilpy will bring them right away," said Pilpy, disappearing again with a pop.
Then Madam Bones turned back to them and said, "Let me be clear from the start. Normally, I would absolutely not accept such a sudden request. But you're lucky that Ronald Bilius Weasley appeared on my desk twice last week, and it piqued my curiosity."
"My name?!" Ron exclaimed in surprise.
But Madam Bones ignored him and continued, "That's why you'd better not waste one of the really rare moments I can spend with my family. In your letter, you mentioned that you possess magical items that could be quite useful to DMLE. I hope that's true."
Ron coughed into his fist, embarrassed by his earlier gaffe. "Don't worry, Madam Bones, these two products I made will definitely be quite useful for DMLE."
"Products you made?" Madam Bones asked in surprise.
"Ah. Yes. You know, the products I wanted to show you are magical products I made myself," Ron said.
Madam Bones looked at him with narrowed eyes for a moment. "Young man, I hope this isn't a joke. Otherwise, you'll face the consequences."
Meanwhile, Bill immediately chose to speak. Otherwise, his brother would cause him to die of a heart attack before he could even enjoy the good part of his life. "Ma'am, I know how it looks from the outside. But rest assured, this isn't a joke. Please give Ron a chance. He will definitely surprise you."
Madam Bones gave Bill a look that weighed the seriousness of his words. And just then, Pilpy reappeared, placing snacks and tea on the table and serving them. Then she disappeared again.
After that, Madam Bones sighed and said, "Go on. At least I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and listen."
"Thank you, ma'am. If you'll allow me, may I take out the magical items I mentioned so you can see them? It will be easier for me to explain them by showing them to you," Ron said.
"Go ahead. At worst, I can console myself with the fact that you didn't come here empty-handed just to talk," Madam Bones said.
Then Ron stood up, pulled his shrunken wooden chest from his waist, set it down with a wandless spell beside the sofas, then returned it to its original size.
Meanwhile, Madam Bones watched Ron's nonverbal wandless spells with curious eyes. It was clear she was thinking about something, but only she knew what.
Just as Ron was about to open the lid of his original-size wooden chest, a voice came from the living room door. "Aunt Amelia, could you read me…?"
The next moment, a girl about Ron's age appeared at the living room door. She must have realized her aunt was in the room with someone else, because she stopped mid-sentence.
Without even looking at her, Ron knew who she was. Besides Amelia Bones, the only other person living in this house was her niece, Susan Bones.
As Ron examined her more closely, he noticed she had long red hair, a round face, and blue eyes, just like in the books.
Then he noticed the book she was holding, and considering the unfinished words she'd just had, he assumed this was probably a routine time when Madam Bones read to Susan.
It seemed these sudden visits were indeed costing Madam Bones time she could have spent with her family.
"Susan, darling, I'm sorry, but I have some guests to attend to right now. We'll have to postpone our reading time a little," Madam Bones said.
"Oh... I understand, Aunt Amelia. I'll leave you alone," Susan said.
Although she tried to hide it, Ron could sense the disappointment in her voice. Susan probably didn't get much time with her aunt because of her work, and losing this chance must have upset her greatly.
"Um, one moment, Miss," Ron said suddenly. Then, turning to Amelia Bones, whose eyebrows were now raised, he said, "Madam Bones. This must be your niece, mustn't it? Could you please introduce us?"
End of Chapter 32.
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Next Chapters' Name:
Ch.33: Magical Power Finder (MPF)
Ch.34: Truth Seeker
Ch.35: Conditions and Request