Chapter 265 :Arrangement
Sirius said hastily,
"I'm going to buy a house near Privet Drive and move there!"
Phineas waved his hand at him and said with a smile,
"Sirius, there's no need to be so anxious. Just let the people below handle it. Even better, we can arrange more people nearby to ensure your and Harry's safety at critical moments."
When Dumbledore heard this, his face suddenly turned grim. What Phineas had just said inevitably implied a lack of trust in Dumbledore and the other members of the Order of the Phoenix.
Sirius, who was also a member of the Order, felt a bit uncomfortable after hearing Phineas's words. After thinking for a moment, he said,
"Phineas, the Order of the Phoenix can be trusted..."
Before he could finish, Phineas interrupted him.
Phineas said firmly,
"Is it really trustworthy? Sirius, can you and Professor Dumbledore guarantee that all members of the Order have no ulterior motives? Can you promise there won't be another Peter Pettigrew?
"Moreover, many members of the Order have a bad reputation in the wizarding world. For instance, that guy Mundungus Fletcher. After the disappearance of the Dark Lord, he boasted everywhere that he was a member of the Order and acted recklessly. He committed serious crimes in the wizarding world several times, but the Aurors let him go out of respect for the Order."
"Not long ago, I heard he even tried to attack Arthur when Arthur searched his house. You know, although Arthur wasn't a member of the Order before, he contributed a lot during the war. Molly's two brothers were members and died twelve years ago. If Fletcher can attack Arthur, I don't believe he wouldn't attack others."
"Not to mention, he's someone who puts profit above all else. There's no guarantee that he won't abandon the Order's assignments for personal gain. If he's assigned to protect Harry and normally takes it seriously, but one day neglects his duties to go steal something, leading to Harry being harmed, it wouldn't be impossible.
"And he's just one well-known member of the Order. If I recall correctly, you recruited a large number of grassroots people in the magical world to gather information. Those liars, petty thieves, and dealers have always valued profit above all. Why do you think I should trust them?"
Dumbledore and Sirius remained silent. They both knew what Phineas said was true. The Order did have powerful, responsible, and righteous members, but many had died in the war twelve years ago. Now, few in the Order could be wholly trusted. Many were just the types Phineas mentioned.
After a long sigh, Dumbledore finally relented.
"Alright, but I still hope the Order of the Phoenix can also be involved in protecting Harry."
Phineas smiled and nodded.
"Of course. After all, the members of the Order have fought against You-Know-Who's Death Eaters. Not only do they know them well, but they can also contact you directly. I think no one in the wizarding world is more suitable than you to serve as the Order's support to protect Harry."
Dumbledore shook his head slightly. He felt something was off about this cooperation, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Finally, he looked at Phineas and said,
"Still, Phineas, you raised a valid point. Now that Tom is back, the Order of the Phoenix needs to be reorganized. Do you have any good suggestions?"
Sirius immediately said,
"Remus and I are at your disposal anytime, Professor."
He was very excited. The Order of the Phoenix had been his youth, his everything. Now that he was back in it, it felt like returning to the days he fought beside James and Remus.
Phineas thought for a moment and said,
"There are some good candidates. We have a cousin who married a Muggle wizard. She has a daughter, Nymphadora Tonks, a natural Metamorphmagus. She'd be perfect for the Order. Plus, her background is clean, so there's no fear of her being a spy."
Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully.
"Miss Tonks, yes, I remember her. She was quite mischievous at Hogwarts—though not as mischievous as the Weasley twins."
At this point, Dumbledore chuckled. Though George and Fred were always playing pranks, their warm and lively personalities made it hard for anyone to dislike them. In fact, thinking of them brought a smile to people's faces.
Phineas laughed too, shaking his head.
"George and Fred would be great too, but they're still Hogwarts students like me. They can serve as reserve members. If we ever need someone to act within Hogwarts, they'd be ideal. Speaking of them, Arthur and Bill Weasley are also good candidates. Molly, too. Due to the Prewett brothers, they have a personal vendetta against the Death Eaters.
"Of course, they're not fit for frontline combat, but they'd be great in logistics."
Dumbledore nodded.
"The Weasleys are suitable. But Molly might be reluctant… I'd better talk to her myself. Alastor and Minerva have their own duties, and we'll need more fighters in the Order to carry out missions."
Sirius spoke up again.
"Kingsley from the Ministry is pretty solid. He's from the Shacklebolt family, which is close to the Blacks. He's always been on your side, Professor. You can definitely trust him."
Dumbledore nodded.
"Kingsley is good. He's helped me a lot over the years. Still, I'm hesitant to let him join the Order—he is an Auror, and currently assigned to protect the Muggle Prime Minister."
Phineas shook his head.
"That's exactly why I think he's the perfect choice for the Order."
"Tell me your reasons," Dumbledore said, his tone shifting to that of a teacher testing his student's reasoning.
Phineas, unfazed, smiled.
"Kingsley works at the Ministry. That fills the Order's lack of internal intelligence. Mad-Eye used to help, but he's retired. The Ministry is a blind spot for the Order right now. Kingsley's authority and access are ideal.
"He's a born Auror and protects the Muggle Prime Minister, so he's well-informed and has strong connections. He's friendly with professors and the Order. Plus, with his Black family ties, we know he can be trusted."
Dumbledore smiled and nodded.
"You're absolutely right..."
"HooHoo…,"
Just as Dumbledore was about to continue, a loud snore echoed through the room.
They turned to see Nicolas lying on the sofa, fast asleep.
He held a teacup in one hand and a half-eaten piece of cake in the other. His head was tilted, and he snored like a thunderstorm. A bubble on his nose inflated and deflated with each breath.
"Looks like Nicolas is tired," Dumbledore said with a smile, a mix of kindness and reluctance in his eyes.
Phineas nearly wiped his eyes. He could understand the reluctance, but the kindness...?
If he remembered correctly, Dumbledore was just over a hundred, while Nico was at least five hundred years old. Shouldn't it be Nico looking at Dumbledore with that expression?
Still, he said nothing. It wasn't important, and it wasn't the time.
He stood and said to Dumbledore,
"Professor, I'll go arrange for someone to protect Harry. Although Harry will spend the holiday with us, to stay discreet, it's best to move the protection team in now and let them blend in gradually."
Dumbledore nodded with a smile.
"You're as meticulous as ever. Go ahead and do what you think is best. Just be sure to coordinate with the Order of the Phoenix."
Dumbledore didn't ask Phineas for the list of protectors—he knew he wouldn't get it. Even if Phineas trusted the Order (which he didn't), he wouldn't risk the safety of others by sharing such information.
Phineas left to make arrangements, while Sirius went to pick up Harry.
They had originally agreed to get Harry a week into the holiday, but after the attack on Phineas, Sirius grew worried and sent Harry a letter saying he'd come a bit earlier. Now that Phineas was safe and the culprit somewhat identified, the urgency lessened.
Since they would likely be spending their holiday in a secure manor, there was less concern for danger.
As they walked out of Hogwarts, Phineas said,
"By the way, after picking up Harry, go back to the old house first. Don't go to the manor from last Christmas—it may not be safe anymore. Wait for me, and we'll decide where to spend the holiday."
He paused.
"Actually, I think it'd be good if Harry and I spent the holiday with Nicolas. You're welcome too, Sirius. Nicolas is a five-hundred-year-old wizard. Even if Harry doesn't study alchemy with him, just being guided by him a little would be a huge benefit. And if nothing goes wrong, Nicolas's will leave us this September..."
Sirius was silent. He neither agreed nor refused. After a pause, he said,
"Let Harry decide for himself."
Phineas nodded.
"Right. He hasn't had much free time in the wizarding world. I'm sure there are many things he's looking forward to. We'll ask his opinion when the time comes."
With that, Phineas Apparated away.
Sirius stood in silence, looking at the spot where Phineas disappeared. He understood what Phineas meant.
The wizarding world wasn't safe anymore, and the holiday plans would have to change. No traveling around or participating in events, at least not this year.
Phineas was suggesting a place that was both safe and interesting. Nicolas's home was perfect—hidden, secure, and full of magical wonders. Even watching Nicolas work would be an unforgettable experience for Harry.
But Sirius still felt uncertain. After all, he hadn't spent much time with Harry. Despite their joyful Christmas together, he worried about Harry's feelings.
He was a new father—worrying and hesitating were natural.
So Sirius Black, deep in thought, mounted his flying motorbike and flew from the Scottish Highlands to Privet Drive in London.
Now, let's return to Phineas.
The Silver Moon Potion Shop, once the headquarters of his network, was now completely compromised. Even if it reopened in the future, it would never again serve as a base of operations.
His destination this time was not one of his own strongholds, but rather a property belonging to the Black family. Located near Bristol Cathedral Meadows Station, it was a well-known wizarding pub, not unlike the Leaky Cauldron, and protected by Muggle-repelling charms. It served as a popular gathering place for witches and wizards in the region.
This establishment was officially listed under the Black family name, and made no effort to conceal that fact. The Black family crest hung prominently above the entrance, a declaration of ownership and a silent warning to all who entered: abide by the rules, or face the consequences.
(Author's Note: A correction regarding Arthur Weasley — he is a member of the Ministry of Magic's Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, which consists of only two people. This small size gives Arthur the leeway to exploit certain legal loopholes, often in pursuit of his Muggle-related interests. I previously confused this department with the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. While the mistake only affected a line spoken by Cornelius Fudge, it has been corrected.)