Hogwarts: The Greatest Wizard

Chapter 84: The Burrow

Everyone in the magical world knows that the Gaunt family is a descendant of Slytherin, but few are aware that the Black and Slytherin families also share some bloodlines.

The Black family genealogy, as recognized by the magical community, traces back to Phineas Black I. However, what is not commonly known is that Phineas Black I, the renowned Slytherin Dean and Hogwarts Headmaster, had a mother from the Gaunt family, making her a direct descendant of the ancient line.

Unfortunately, Phineas Black I did not inherit the legendary "parseltongue" and as a result, the bloodline began to thin over time, with no one in the family possessing that rare gift.

But I digress. The Weasley family, in particular, is often underestimated by most pure-blood families. Their greatest asset has always been their wide network of connections. Not to mention their close relationship with Dumbledore, with the Weasley family playing a key role in the formation of the Order of the Phoenix. During the Second Wizarding War, many Weasleys made the ultimate sacrifice, and even those who survived had numerous relatives who lost their lives. The famous Prewett brothers, for instance, were Molly Weasley's siblings.

Thus, Phineas's visit to the Weasley family may have been motivated by a desire to forge alliances. His connection with George and Fred gave him the perfect opportunity to strengthen ties with the family.

Perhaps due to the Weasleys' home being somewhat removed from London, Popsicle returned late in the evening after Phineas had finished his dinner, bringing back a response from George and Fred.

The letter confirmed their visit the following day, and Molly Weasley had expressed her warm welcome to Phineas.

The next day, Phineas made his way to Ottery St. Catchpole, a village not far from the Weasley household, with Puff's assistance. This was a place where wizards and Muggles coexisted, having been designated a magical community after the signing of the International Statute of Secrecy in the 17th century.

Numerous wizard families lived nearby, including the Fawcetts, the Diggorys, the Lovegoods, and, of course, the Weasleys, Phineas's intended destination.

Out of respect for the Weasley family's pure-blood heritage, Phineas chose not to use Puff's assistance to directly reach their home. Instead, he decided to walk the distance to the Weasley household.

After passing through fields, trees, a thicket, and a forest, Phineas finally arrived at his destination.

The Weasley house stood before him, surrounded by a modest yard, an old garage, and an unassuming home. It appeared to be a converted pigsty made of stone, with additional rooms hastily added on over time. The building was crooked, and if not for magic, it would have collapsed long ago. Several chimneys jutted out from the red roof, a peculiar sight, as he wondered why so many were necessary for just a few fireplaces.

At the entrance stood a sign reading "The Burrow."

It was an authentic sight, one that caused Phineas to pause and reflect.

Upon stepping into the yard, Phineas observed the leather boots discarded by the door, a rusty cauldron, and several plump chickens pecking around. The surroundings were humble—fitting for a family that, despite their pure-blood status, lived quite differently from their peers.

The Weasley family, unlike other pure-blood households, led a simple, ordinary life—something that Phineas respected deeply. He had no intention of looking down upon them.

Phineas straightened his clothes, slipped his wand back into his cane, and gently knocked on the door.

After a brief moment, hurried footsteps could be heard inside. The door opened to reveal a short, slightly plump woman with red hair, her kindly smile and familiar features immediately identifying her as Molly Weasley, Phineas's distant cousin by marriage.

"You must be Mrs. Weasley, correct? I'm Phineas Black. I received a letter yesterday regarding my visit today."

Phineas removed his hat and gave a polite, gentlemanly bow to Molly.

"Oh! Mr. Black, yes, I was expecting you. Please, do come in!" Molly greeted, slightly flustered by Phineas's formal manners.

Phineas's respectful introduction momentarily disarmed Molly, who had expected someone much older. She quickly invited him inside.

"Please, Mrs. Weasley, just call me Phineas. If we are to be honest, I should be calling you cousin."

Molly blinked in surprise before realizing that the child in front of her was the same age as her own sons. She smiled warmly.

"Oh, Phineas, come in, come in! Let's talk inside."

Phineas followed Molly into the house, which, while modest in appearance, was warm and welcoming on the inside. The Weasley's living room was small, so Molly led him into a larger dining room where the kitchen appeared cozy yet somewhat cramped.

A magical wall clock hung on the wall—its face only displaying a single hand, with no numbers. The clock's markings were labeled with mundane tasks: "Making tea," "Feeding chickens," and "You are late."

On the mantel next to the clock were three shelves of books, most of which were about everyday magic—like "The Magic of Baking Bread." There was also a magical radio, one of the few Muggle devices in the wizarding world, a connection to the Ministry of Magic's radio station.

"I'm so sorry, Phineas," Molly apologized as she flustered. "I didn't expect you to arrive right now. I should have come directly, but I was a bit late."

Phineas smiled and shook his head, clearly understanding.

"It's no trouble. I should have informed you earlier. As for the walk, I thought it would be a more formal way to arrive on my first visit."