Chapter 290: What Are They Planning?
After shaking Charlie's hand, Harry turned over what he had just said and frowned slightly.
"Friend? Who are you talking about?"
He had assumed Charlie knew about him because Ron and the others had mentioned him.
"Your Professor Kahn," Charlie said. "He says you have a real knack for both spellwork and magical creatures, and that you're looking after a Cait Sith queen, even though the species was officially declared extinct long ago."
At that, Charlie could not help rubbing his hands together, a spark of excitement lighting his face.
"Where is she? Could you let me see it? Just one look, I swear I will not touch."
He preferred powerful creatures like dragons, if he was honest, but a species written off as extinct for over three hundred years was still something he was desperate to see with his own eyes.
"Er… she did not come with me this time," Harry said, hesitating.
The little black cat's followers all lived on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Every day it went back to spend time with them, spreading the ideals of its so-called feline empire.
If Harry were only away for a few days, the cat would happily have accompanied him. This time, though, they would be spending Christmas at the Burrow, then travelling on to Norway. There was no telling how long they would be gone.
If the cat came along, it would be away from its people for too long.
On top of that, one of its sworn enemies was on this trip as well. If he brought them both, Harry was genuinely worried they would come to blows.
So he had left the cat behind.
Thinking that, Harry could not help glancing out of the window at the head hidden in the shrubs outside, swivelling constantly as it kept watch.
Following his gaze, Charlie spotted the head among the bushes and raised an eyebrow, curiosity flaring.
"A house elf? One of yours?"
House elves were bound by very strict rules of ownership. Every elf served a specific pure blood family or institution, and those ties were passed down from generation to generation.
By blood, Harry Potter counted as a member of a pure blood family, but as far as Charlie knew, the Potters had never had a house elf.
"No. Dobby is my friend," Harry said firmly, shaking his head. "He used to belong to the Malfoy family, but now he is free."
"A free house elf," Charlie murmured, stroking his chin, intrigued. "Interesting."
He remembered how, back when they were still at Hogwarts, Evans used to sneak down to the kitchens all the time. He had always claimed he was looking for a house elf willing to be his friend.
They had all assumed that "house elf friend" was a story Evans had made up so he could raid the kitchens alone without having to share anything he nicked. Everyone knew what life was like for house elves. That was not something you could fix just by being nice.
Yet now, here was a "free" house elf standing guard right in front of him, and Charlie could not help linking the two things in his mind.
So after all these years, Evans had actually managed it.
So he really had not been making that excuse up just to steal food.
Charlie's expression turned a little odd. He looked again at the vigilant house elf, then back at Harry, clearly sitting on a pile of questions.
He was desperately curious about why Evans had suddenly changed course and taken a post teaching at Hogwarts.
And what on earth was his teaching like?
As Professor Kettleburn's prized student, had he inherited his mentor's teaching style as well?
That was a slightly alarming thought.
Before Charlie could ask, however, the twins descended on him again, clinging to him like two particularly persistent barnacles.
"Never mind that now. Just say you will help us. This is really important."
"You have not even told me what you want me to do," Charlie said, spreading his hands. "How am I supposed to agree? What if you are planning something awful?"
He knew his younger brothers well enough to be reasonably sure they did not mean anyone real harm. That did not mean whatever they came up with could not have disastrous results.
As he spoke, his eye flicked to Harry beside him, and something seemed to click.
"All right. You did not drag Harry away before talking about this, so I am guessing he knows what it is. Is he involved as well?"
"Of course," George said, nodding hard. "Not just Harry. Little Ron, Hermione, Wood…"
He started ticking names off on his fingers. At the end of the list, Fred added, "Everyone in our Magical Creatures Club is in on this."
"But you made a point of keeping Percy and his little girlfriend out of earshot while you explained it to me," Charlie went on. "So whatever this is, it probably concerns Percy, and you do not want him to find out."
Seeing both brothers nodding like bobbleheads, Charlie dropped his gaze and fell silent for a moment.
If it were just George and Fred and another one of their mad schemes, there was no way he would agree before hearing them out. If it had something to do with Percy, though…
After thinking it over, he looked up again.
"Does Evans know about this?"
When they said "Magical Creatures Club", he assumed they meant the little professor club Evans had set up. If every member was involved, Evans ought to know.
If the plan had come from Evans himself, Charlie would have no real reason not to join in.
At his question, the twins exchanged a quick, guilty glance and dropped their heads.
"He does not know?" Charlie arched an eyebrow, ready to press the point, but before he could, they snapped their heads up again, eyes suddenly bright with conviction.
"We have not told the professor yet," George admitted. "But even if he knew, he would definitely approve."
"Exactly," Fred chimed in. "This is to stop Percy and Penelope. No way Professor Kahn would let them charge off to somewhere as dangerous as the Sea of Wraiths."
Charlie studied them for several long seconds, trying to decide whether they were bluffing. When he was sure they were serious, he slowly nodded.
"All right. I am in. Tell me."
He leaned back in his chair with a deliberately lazy air.
"But let me make this clear. If it turns out to be too dangerous, I am not going. And I will do everything I can to stop you."
"Relax," George said, thumping his own chest. "The whole point is to get rid of the danger."
Only then did he begin outlining their plan.
As he spoke, Charlie's easy expression drained away, replaced by sheer disbelief.
"To the Sea of…" His voice jumped involuntarily. He caught himself just in time, remembering he was at home and that this was absolutely not something their mother could overhear. He forced his tone down.
"They are going to the Sea of Wraiths for a jailbreak?"