Chapter 244
The moment he heard those words, a chill ran through Albert's entire body.
That letter...
How could this person know about it?
He had received it two years ago, and it had been so cryptic that he hadn't fully understood it back then. Its contents were filled with hints and warnings, yet nothing had been clear enough for him to know who had written it or what exactly he was supposed to do.
Trying to remain calm, Albert could not completely hide his shock.
"How... how do you know about that letter?" he asked cautiously. "Who are you?"
The mysterious man didn't move. His face remained completely hidden, and he stood there as though time itself had no effect on him.
Then he spoke in a calm voice that nonetheless carried immense authority.
"I never expected you to understand it back then. But I knew you would return to it someday. I knew you would begin asking questions. And now... I can see that you're finally starting to understand the truth."
Albert froze.
The truth?
What truth was he talking about?
Had this person been involved in everything that had happened over the past two years? Had he been watching him all this time?
Taking a deep breath, Albert asked carefully,
"If you knew I wouldn't understand it, then why didn't you explain it more clearly? Why send me such a vague letter?"
The mysterious man smiled—or at least, that was the feeling Albert got, despite being unable to see his face.
In a voice carrying both sorrow and pride, the man said:
"Because some truths are not meant to be told... they are meant to be discovered. Unfortunately, I don't have enough time for that now. There is something important I must tell you..."
"Your father will die soon."
Albert immediately felt his tension skyrocket.
He already knew that his father would die this year. Having seen the original story in his previous life, he had always known it would happen.
But how did this mysterious man know that?
Unable to understand it, Albert asked,
"Who told you that? How do you know?"
The man remained silent for several seconds.
Eventually, he began moving and said,
"I cannot tell you that right now. But someday, I may tell you all the truths you need to know."
"Well then... farewell."
Albert had no intention of letting him leave.
"No, wait!" he shouted, rushing toward him. "Don't go! I want to know how you know all of this!"
Before Albert could reach him, the mysterious man vanished from where he stood.
It was Apparition—executed with incredible speed and skill.
Albert stopped in place, troubled and deep in thought.
His anxiety continued to grow.
He didn't know whether that man was a friend or an enemy.
But he knew one thing for certain.
This person was no ordinary wizard, and his appearance here had not been a coincidence.
Meanwhile, Mr. Weasley and Bill were busy discussing goblins.
"They haven't given up anything yet," Bill said. "But I don't know whether they truly believe he's back. Perhaps they'd rather remain neutral and stay away from the conflict."
Mr. Weasley nodded.
"I'm absolutely certain they would never join his side. They've suffered many losses themselves. Remember that goblin family he wiped out near Nottingham during the last war?"
Lupin spoke next.
"I think it depends on what he offers them. And I'm not talking about gold. If he offers them the freedom we've denied them for centuries, they might consider joining him. Any luck with Ragnok yet, Bill?"
Bill shook his head.
"He's anti-wizard. He's still furious over the Bagman affair and believes the Ministry covered it up. As you know, the goblins took their gold back from him..."
Before he could continue, a wave of laughter erupted from the middle of the table.
Fred, George, Ron, and Mundungus were laughing so hard that their chairs shook.
Coughing through his laughter, Mundungus said,
"Then—then—no, you won't believe this! He said to me, 'Where did you get all these frogs, Dung? Some filthy thief stole all my frogs!'"
"And I said, 'All your frogs were stolen? Then you want more, right?'"
"You boys won't believe it, but every now and then he actually buys back the frogs I stole from him!"
Mrs. Weasley snapped sharply while Ron nearly howled with laughter.
"I don't think we want to hear any more of your glorious business career, Mundungus. Thank you very much."
Mundungus immediately wiped tears from his eyes and winked at Harry.
"But as you know, Willie from Warty Harris stole them first. So technically, I wasn't in the wrong."
"I don't know where you learned right from wrong, Mundungus," Mrs. Weasley said coldly, "but clearly you missed some very important lessons."
Fred and George buried their faces in their goblets, and George got the hiccups.
For some reason, Mrs. Weasley shot Sirius a disapproving glance before getting up to fetch dessert.
Harry looked at his godfather.
"Molly doesn't approve of Mundungus joining us," Sirius muttered quietly.
"How did he join the Order?" Harry asked.
"He's useful. He knows every thief because he's one himself. But he's fiercely loyal to Dumbledore, who once got him out of serious trouble."
"And people like Dung hear things we don't."
"But Molly thinks inviting him to dinner is going too far. She still hasn't forgiven him for abandoning his guard duty over you."
After three servings of dessert, Harry felt his trousers tightening around his waist.
The effect of the food was obvious—after all, the trousers had once belonged to Dudley.
Mr. Weasley leaned back in his chair looking relaxed. Tonks yawned loudly, her nose having returned to its normal size.
Ginny sat on the floor with Crookshanks, tossing bottle caps for him to chase.
"I think it's bedtime," Mrs. Weasley yawned.
"Not yet, Molly," Sirius said, pushing aside his empty plate.
Turning to Harry, he added,
"You know, I'm surprised. I thought the moment you arrived here, you'd start asking questions about Voldemort."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Before the name had been spoken, everyone had been relaxed and sleepy.
Now tension filled the room.
Lupin lowered his wineglass, looking exhausted.
"I did ask," Harry said bitterly. "I asked Ron and Hermione, but they said they weren't allowed into the Order."
"And they were right," Mrs. Weasley said firmly.
"You're children."
Then Harry asked:
"Then why is Albert allowed to be involved when he's the same age as us?"
Mrs. Weasley remained silent.
But Sirius answered.
"You've seen the reason yourself, Harry. Albert is useful. He's helped us with planning."
"He has faced Voldemort directly."
"And besides that, he knows things we don't."
Sirius continued:
"And since when does someone have to be a member of the Order just to ask questions? Harry has been trapped in a Muggle house for a month. He deserves to know what is going—"
"Wait!!"
George suddenly shouted.
Everyone turned toward him.
"What is it?" Mrs. Weasley asked anxiously.
Fred stood up abruptly.
"I left an Extendable Ear upstairs. I heard Albert talking to someone just moments ago—but I couldn't hear what the other person was saying!"
Silence fell.
Sirius rose immediately.
"But no one is missing from this room," he said grimly.
"So who was Albert talking to?"
Everyone exchanged uneasy glances.
Before anyone could react, the door slowly opened.
Albert entered.
His face looked completely different.
His eyes were slightly widened, as though he had witnessed something impossible.
Tension, shock, and deep anxiety were written all over his face.
Sirius immediately rushed toward his son.
"What happened, Albert? Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"
Albert took a deep breath before answering.
"There was someone upstairs."
"But he wasn't an ordinary person."
"Who was it?" Moody asked, hand already resting on his wand.
"Describe him."
"I couldn't see his face," Albert replied.
"He wore black robes, and there was a symbol on his chest."
"A phoenix."
"Yellow and orange."
Everyone felt a chill.
Arthur stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"A yellow and orange phoenix..."
"That's not the symbol of the Order of the Phoenix."
"But it's disturbingly similar."
Snape remained silent.
Harry felt uneasy.
Ginny stepped forward.
"What did he say to you?"
Albert paused.
"He told me something strange."
Hermione asked nervously,
"What was it?"
Albert slowly looked around the room.
"He told me..."
"...that my father is going to die soon."
Heavy silence filled the room.
Fred and George exchanged troubled looks.
Sirius forced himself to stay calm.
"What nonsense is this?" he said.
"I'm not dying before seeing you get married, son."
"Now come back to the table."
But as he turned toward his chair, a hand suddenly grabbed his wrist.
He turned around.
Albert stood there, staring at him with eyes filled with fear and sorrow.
Those weren't normal eyes.
They were the eyes of someone who knew a terrible tragedy was approaching but could do nothing to stop it.
Albert tightened his grip.
"Father..."
"I'm not joking."
Everyone in the room turned toward them.
Albert's voice trembled slightly.
"I have a terrible feeling surrounding you."
"A feeling telling me you're going to die soon."
"Please..."
"Please be careful."
"You're the only family I have left."
Those words made Sirius's heart stop for a moment.
Looking into his son's eyes, he felt something strange.
This wasn't childish fear.
It felt deeper.
Almost like a prophecy.
For several seconds, Sirius simply stared at him.
Then, without hesitation, he pulled Albert into a tight embrace.
One hand rested on the back of his son's head.
Sirius Black was not usually an emotional man.
But at that moment, he knew Albert needed this more than anything.
In a calm but determined voice, he said:
"Don't worry, son."
"I'll be careful."
But Albert remained unconvinced.
He simply looked at his father in silence...
To be continued...