Chapter 443: Dinner and Performance

"What are you working on?" Harry asked.

"A report for the Department of International Magical Cooperation." Percy said smugly, "We're trying to standardize cauldron thickness. Some of these foreign imports are a little too thin. Leakage has been increasing at a rate of almost three percent a year..."

"That's amazing! This report will change the world!" Ron said sarcastically. "Think about it, The Daily Prophet will print on the front page: leaks in the cauldron."

When he heard that, Percy turned slightly pink.

"You can scoff, Ron," he said hotly, "but unless some sort of international law is imposed, we could find the market flooded with flimsy, shallow products that seriously endanger..."

"Yes, all right," Ron said impatiently, and started up the stairs again.

Behind them, Percy slammed his bedroom door shut.

Like everyone else, Ivan had little interest in Percy's "leaking cauldron" report.

He thought perhaps he might hear from Percy about the state of his boss, Mr. Barty Crouch.

Ivan didn't expect Percy to notice anything unusual, but it would be enough if he could quickly pick up a few clues.

If Voldemort wanted to save his most devoted servant, then Barty Crouch was a pass that could not be eluded.

But considering Percy's character, Ivan doubted he would help him.

Now he would probably like Crouch to give him all the power to prove his ability.

Behind Ron, Ivan climbed three more flights of stairs and could still hear shouting from the kitchen below.

The voices were loud and it sounded like Mr. Weasley had told his wife about the deforming sweets.

These voices dragged Ivan's thoughts back to reality, leaving Voldemort and Barty Crouch Jr. aside.

It was serious business to calm the angry Hermione.

Pushing open the door and entering, Ron's room looked no different than before.

The same posters of Ron's favorite Quidditch team, the Chudley Cannoneers, swirled and waved on the walls and sloped ceiling.

There was still the fish tank on the windowsill, which had once housed the frog spawn, but now contained an extremely large frog.

Ron's old rat, Scabbers, was no longer here, but in its place was the little gray owl Sirius had given him.

He was jumping up and down in a small cage and screaming madly.

"Shut up, pig!" said Ron, pushing his way between two of the five beds that had been squeezed into the room.

"Fred and George are here with us, because Bill and Charlie are in their room!" he said to Ivan and Harry. "Percy gets his room to himself because he has to work."

"Percy's enjoying work, then?" Harry sat down on a bed. He lifted his head and watched the Chudley Cannoneers zoom in and away from the posters on the ceiling.

"Enjoying it?!" said Ron darkly. "I don't think he'd come home if Dad didn't make him. He's obsessed. Don't get him on the subject of his boss. According to Mr. Crouch...as I was telling Mr. Crouch...Mr. Crouch is of the opinion...Mr. Crouch was telling me...they'll be announcing their engagement any minute now."

"Stop talking about Percy, Ivan, how was your vacation?" Ginny asked. "Your sudden disappearance at the end of last semester worried me. The school was full of rumors about your serious injuries."

"Don't worry, I'm fine right now..."

"Speaking of which, the three of you were driving us crazy!" Ron added. "After you and Sirius left, we all knew you were in danger, and we took turns asking for information about it!"

Ivan knew that Ron wanted to know about his experience during the summer vacation and whether he got half of the Philosopher's Stone.

However, it was obviously unwise to talk about these things in front of Ginny.

Whether it was the Philosopher's Stone left behind by Gryffindor, the fallen centaurs, Voldemort or the evil god, it was not wise for others to know.

Ivan must keep it a secret. He didn't even say anything to Harry, but he told Hermione everything.

"You know, I went to France during the vacations. Dumbledore took us to Beauxbatons Academy of Magic to look for his old friend Nicolas Flamel. He helped me sort out all the problems." Ivan said briefly.

He then began to tell Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny about his experiences in France.

"This is really good, I want to go to Beauxbatons to have a look!" said Ron enviously. "This is an unforgettable adventure. The location of all the magic schools is confidential. It's hard for outsiders to get a chance to get in."

"As long as I'm not with Muggles, I can go anywhere." Harry sighed and continued. "Before the World Cup, I want to see Sirius, and I don't know how he is now."

"My dad said we'd go see him tomorrow." Ron said, as if he had remembered something, "By the way, Ivan, the magic that left Gryffindor..."

"I think they've stopped arguing." Hermione stood up suddenly.

She saw Ginny looking curiously from Ron to Ivan.

Apparently, she thought about what Ron said, what Gryffindor left behind!

To cover the awkward moment, Hermione quickly said, "Shall we go downstairs and help your mother with dinner?"

"Okay." Ginny nodded.

The five people left the room in turn, and Ivan deliberately stayed in the back, and tugged gently on Hermione.

"Hermione, I want to talk to you..." Ivan looked into Hermione's eyes, "...about the Weasleys joke products!"

Hermione stared at Ivan for a moment, and since Ivan didn't flinch, he looked down in embarrassment.

"We need to talk about the use of the newspaper proceeds, and your help with Fred and George's investigation." Hermione tried to say in an ordinary tone, "Whatever you have to say, save it for tonight, I want to see your performance before I consider whether to forgive you."

Ivan was stunned, not sure what Hermione meant.

Hermione was now obviously angry, how should he behave to please her?!

When they all came downstairs, they saw that Mrs. Weasley was alone in the kitchen, in a very bad mood.

She looked at Ivan and was still annoyed at the Weasley's "Wizard Wheezes".

"Well, we're eating out in the garden!" she said. "There's not room for twelve people here. Girls can you help me? You three, take these plates, knives and forks."