"That's because you're not nice to him," Hermione said.
"I don't think that's it," Ron shook his head. "You've been nice enough to him, but hasn't he been rude to you?
I've even heard him shout mud... Anyway, you know what I'm trying to say."
Hermione opened her mouth but said nothing.
Because it's true, Kreacher didn't just shout mudblood behind her back; even to her face, he said all kinds of unpleasant things unless Sirius or Kael was around to slightly restrain him.
So even if Hermione wanted to refute Ron, she couldn't find a good reason, and she shifted her gaze to Kael, pretending she hadn't heard anything, while changing the topic:
"It's not entirely because of Percy... Mainly because of someone else."
"Someone else?" Kael furrowed his brow. "Could it be someone in the Order of Phoenix..."
"No, no, you misunderstood," Hermione guessed Kael's thoughts and shook her head repeatedly. "Not the Order of Phoenix, it's someone else, but I don't know who specifically, they didn't mention it before setting off."
Kael nodded, and knowing it wasn't someone from the Order of Phoenix, he didn't pay much attention to it.
Half an hour later, Fred and George also came downstairs yawning, just like Kael, they were up all night yesterday, and had just woken up.
"Honestly, such loud chatter early in the morning," Fred said, rubbing his eyes. "I kind of get how Mum feels during the holidays now."
"She definitely wanted us to get back to school quickly," George chuckled.
"It's really noisy."
"Sorry," Harry said apologetically.
"No, it's not you, Harry, nor Hermione," Fred said. "We're talking about Ron, he's the loudest."
"If you're so idle, why not finish the homework?" George looked at Ron. "I bet three Galleons your homework is still blank."
"I'll add another three Galleons," Fred said.
Ron's face turned red. He wanted to slap his homework down in front of Fred and George to make them hand over the six Galleons, as that would be quite a fortune for him.
But he couldn't, he really hadn't done it.
After all, the holidays were only half over, who would do their homework so early?
Seeing Ron's embarrassed but somewhat annoyed expression, Fred and George both chuckled. They knew Ron well, just as Ron would immediately think of them when things went wrong.
This was a useless bond that only brothers shared.
Since the adults were all out, lunch was provided by Kreacher, a deluxe meal enough for six people.
After lunch, they all had a rare moment of leisure.
Fred and George returned to Diagon Alley to arrange their shop, while Kael took a trip to Ottery St Catchpole.
Protected by the Fidelius Charm, owls couldn't find this place, so his letters and packages were usually sent to Ottery St Catchpole.
Today was his birthday, and he received an unusually large number of gifts and letters, but this time, he also received many things he hadn't gotten on his previous birthdays... various job invitations.
For example, the Romania Fire Dragon Reserve had included a letter in a full set of Fire Dragon models, asking if he was interested in becoming a Dragon Tamer.
The Chudley Cannons and Falmouth Falcons, two Quidditch teams, also sent him tryout invitations for the Chaser position.
Kael merely glanced and tossed the Chudley Cannons' invitation aside, thinking he'd have to be mad to join a team that's always at the bottom.
As for the remaining Falmouth Falcons, Kael was momentarily surprised by a familiar signature on the invitation.
Karen Harris, the Hufflepuff Prefect when he entered the school, who was also the Quidditch Captain and once the best Chaser.
Kael knew he had pursued a career as a professional Quidditch Chaser after graduation, but he couldn't remember which team he had joined, and was surprised to find he had ended up with the Falmouth Falcons.
Honestly, Kael wasn't very familiar with this team, but it was certainly better than the Chudley Cannons.
Because he received so many items, by the time Kael finished sorting them and returned to No. 12 Grimmauld Place, it was already afternoon.
As soon as he entered, he saw the living room full of people.
Even though it was far from the Ministry of Magic's closing time, Sirius, Mr. Weasley, and Tonks were all sitting there, with Mrs. Weasley, Bill, and Charlie back from St Mungo's as well.
Even Mundungus and Dedalo were there; you could say most of the Order of Phoenix members were assembled, except for those who absolutely couldn't come.
"You finally got back," Fred hurried over, whispering beside Kael.
"Something came up that delayed me," Kael asked. "What's going on here, is there an action?"
"No clue," Fred shook his head. "But Dumbledore came, and then the others came back one by one within half an hour."
"They had a meeting and didn't let us join," George said with a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice. "I don't get it; even though we're official Order of Phoenix members, some things are still kept from us.
"Plus, I don't know what magic Dumbledore used, our gadgets aren't working."