Hogwarts: The Greatest Wizard

Chapter 88: Life at the Weasley House

George and Fred's excited expressions froze the moment they heard what Phineas said.

For them, Snape's classes were a waking nightmare.

Asking the twins to pay attention in Potions was as outrageous as asking them to stop playing pranks altogether.

Seeing their expressions twist with horror and disbelief, Phineas chuckled.

"Look, we have to admit something—some of Hogwarts' subjects really are useless for most students. Take Professor Binns' History of Magic, for example, or some of the electives like Divination, Muggle Studies, Care of Magical Creatures, or even Ancient Runes. They're only useful if you're going to specialize."

He paused, then continued more seriously.

"But the core classes—Potions, Herbology—are a different matter. Even if you're not aiming to be a professional in those fields, the knowledge can be adapted. Especially for what you're doing. With the right potions or herbs, your prank products can be more effective and cheaper to make."

George gave a thoughtful nod.

Fred sat off to the side, a little sulky. Like George, he knew Phineas was right—but that didn't make it any easier to accept they needed to actually listen in class.

Bang bang bang~

There was a knock on the door. George stood up from the floor and opened it.

It was Ginny, the youngest Weasley and frequent co-conspirator in teasing Ron. She was holding a fruit plate filled with both common Muggle fruits and more magical varieties—not expensive, but a generous offering from the Weasleys.

Ginny didn't leave after delivering the plate. Instead, she flopped down onto the floor in an unladylike manner beside the three boys.

After breakfast, Ginny had taken quite a liking to Phineas. She no longer appeared shy or wary.

Of course, it was affection as one might have for a good friend—or even an older brother. Ginny still carried a torch for Harry Potter, the boy who had unknowingly lived in her heart for years.

Once she warmed up, she was just like Fred and George—lively, full of mischief, and eager to torment Ron.

With her creative mind, the four of them brainstormed dozens of prank ideas throughout the afternoon, laying the groundwork for future inventions.

Ginny suggested a particularly promising one: enchanted velvet plushies made through alchemy—not alive, but adorable and capable of light-hearted chaos. It was the sort of thing that would be a massive hit with young witches.

Phineas stayed at the Burrow for two days.

Partly because Mrs. Molly Weasley insisted he stay longer, and partly because the warmth of the large, chaotic Weasley home gave him a sense of comfort—something he'd rarely experienced over the past ten years.

After Regulus Black disappeared, his parents became withdrawn. Then came the fights with Sirius, followed by his father's illness and eventual death.

His mother, Walburga, unraveled after losing her husband, and in her breakdown, she neglected little Phineas entirely.

Then Sirius was sent to Azkaban for allegedly betraying the Potters.

Phineas had grown up mostly alone. Memories of his past life—of the world before magic—had faded over time. If not for the world around him constantly reminding him he was in Harry Potter's universe, he might have forgotten altogether.

Of course, once he mastered memory magic, that might change.

Human memory is a strange thing. Even fleeting sights or sounds leave imprints. They may not surface often, but they are there—deep, dusty, and waiting to be recalled. Memory magic could reach those depths and bring them back into focus, just like retrieving a book from the restricted section.

The Weasleys gave Phineas something he'd missed: a true feeling of family. It made his efforts to befriend them feel more natural, more genuine.

They didn't care about his wealth, or his name as heir to the Black family. To them, he was just a boy—a peer of George and Fred. Especially to Mrs. Weasley, he was a poor child who had lost his parents far too young.

She welcomed him into her home without hesitation. In truth, she was reluctant to see him leave.

During those two days, Phineas didn't receive special treatment. He ate and slept as the others did. He got scolded alongside Fred and George when mischief got out of hand and was expected to help with chores and yardwork.

Though the Weasleys were far from rich, Mrs. Weasley always ensured the children had nutritious meals.

Mr. Weasley, ever curious and kind, took time to speak with Phineas about the Ministry of Magic, pure-blood families, and the subtle art of dealing with bureaucrats.

Everyone grew closer to Phineas during his stay—everyone, that is, except Percy, who remained cool and distant.

Ron, however, became quite attached. Phineas was the only one who didn't tease him mercilessly.