Chapter 257

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Almost immediately, Bill Weasley decided to leave, taking responsibility for negotiations with Arthur Weasley, the father of the family.

"Aren't you forgetting something, Mr. Weasley?" I asked, getting out of bed rather abruptly. No one had changed me into my pajamas, and I hadn't changed myself, either. Though, they took off my coat and jacket, leaving me in a vest.

With a slight movement of my hand and magic, I put myself back in order, approaching the talking people.

"You need to rest!" exclaimed Nymphadora under her mother's reproachful gaze.

"Well, we'll rest when we're dead." I waved her away and shifted my gaze to Bill. "Do you remember the gist of our conversation this morning, Mr. Weasley?"

"How dare you!" immediately resented Molly, leaning toward me and putting her hands to her sides. "In such difficult times! Headmaster ..."

"What are you talking about?"

"About the Black family property," I smiled at Dumbledore. "The kinship with which Mrs. Weasley has so recklessly and unequivocally renounced on behalf of the Weasley family and which, the property of course, now rests quietly around Mr. Bill Weasley's neck."

"I don't have time for such nonsense."

Bill wanted to brush me off, but I decided to do the same trick Dumbledore had done - increase the density of magic in my body. Dumbledore definitely had an idea of my minimum strength. He recognized the Protego Diabolica and did not consider it a modified Incendio. A demanding spell on both the mind and the ability to cast magic.

"Mr. Weasley," I added some chill to my voice. Oh, it's working! Bill turned pale and involuntarily took a step back. Well, he is not a fighter - another would have reached for a wand. "Are you really so anxious to ruin your life and the life of some Veela? Are you so eager to create a family based on magic akin to Amortentia? Do you realize how many lives you can destroy in a fit of selfishness? Or do you forget about the inversion of the mental impact after adapting to it? Some things, Mr. Weasley, should remain on shelves in museums or vaults, remind of their history and times, but never be used for their intended purpose."

I said the last words, holding out my hand. Bill was silent for a few seconds, waiting for the reaction of others, but there was none - many looked at Dumbledore, trying to get his opinion, but he only slightly nodded approvingly at my words.

"Damn you. Here, take it!" Bill quite abruptly pulled the amulet from his neck and placed it in my hand.

"This is a wise act of a truly grown-up wizard," I nodded, putting the amulet in my pants pocket. "As a reward for the return of this, though not expensive, but memorable item, please accept this modest reward of five hundred Galleons."

I held out the pouch of money I had received from Fudge, watching the reactions of the others in passing. Ron was almost drooling, his eyes bulging. Molly and Bill pretended like they didn't need my handouts at all, but they looked at the bag with a clear desire to take it. I even shook it a little so that there was a quiet clink of coins.

"We don't need handouts," Molly said indignantly, beating a hand outstretched by Bill, who had to agree with her. The rest of the crowd didn't say anything.

"As you wish," I shrugged, placing the pouch on my bed, which was about a foot and a half away.

"I'm glad the conflict has been resolved peacefully, now if you'll excuse me," Dumbledore very skillfully put a bit of reproach into his voice and look, and even my conscience almost woke up. Almost. "I will continue. Bill, tell your father what happened. Tell him I'll get in touch with him myself soon. But tell him to be careful. If Fudge suddenly decides that I'm interfering in the work of the Ministry..."

"Leave it to me," Bill nodded back.

The eldest Weasley son patted Harry on the shoulder, kissed his mother on the cheek, and pulled out a robe from somewhere with a magician's gesture. Putting it on and throwing an unfriendly look at me, he quickly left the hospital wing.

"Minerva," the Headmaster turned to McGonagall, "ask Hagrid to come up to my office as soon as possible. And Madame Maxime, if she agrees to come."

The professor nodded silently and walked out.

"Poppy," Dumbledore said to Madame Pomfrey, "be so kind, do your best to bring Alastor back into consciousness as soon as possible. As soon as he wakes up, please, remember everything he says."

"That's what I was going to do," Madam Pomfrey replied and went to her office. She went to get the potions? Maybe some poultices? Who knows.