manynovel Chapter 446 "The Puppy"
Chapter 446 "The Puppy"
Della and Maggie's connection remained intact; she witnessed the outcome of the "Seven Potters" night and learned of the Death Eaters' actions at Bill and Fleur's wedding.
Della felt a pang of reluctance, but these signals also signaled that the brutal war had officially begun, meaning she needed to be even calmer and less lenient.
After all, if she were to do it herself under orders, given Voldemort's harsh treatment of her, it would be even more bloody.
Della was aware of and tacitly approved of her people's plan to use the corpses of several people close to Harry to defect. She took a small gamble, betting that Leah would be the one to carry it out, and gave her some small props.
Hopefully, one less family will lose their joy.
"Alright! I'm done!" Tang Ying finally placed her piece, her cheerful smile tinged with a hint of defiance. "Come on, Della, I've been practicing at home for ages, I'm sure I can beat you this time!"
"I'm looking forward to it." Della pulled herself out of her distant worries, smiled slightly at Tang Ying, and placed a piece amidst the banter and laughter.
There's no point in overthinking. Since we've come to this paradise, let's enjoy it to the fullest.
Della then became completely absorbed in the chessboard, while Fred, who was thousands of miles away and only remembered a flash of white light, suddenly opened his eyes.
The ceiling...it looks like an expensive ceiling...
"Oh, you're awake?" Lia, who was propping her face up and flipping through the account book with a bored expression, looked at him.
"You died too? Did George avenge me?" Fred propped himself up and sat up, only to find himself sleeping on a leather sofa with a blanket covering him.
"So, do you think this is heaven or hell?" Leah tossed the ledger aside, a slight smile playing on her lips.
“I don’t think my pranks are hellish…” Fred looked at Leah in front of him, then adjusted the blanket on his body, and said, “So I think I’m still alive.”
“Your family is both unlucky and lucky, having gotten involved with Della out of so many people,” Leah raised her chin, tapped her neck, and gestured for Fred to check his own. “So one of you has to die, but you didn’t really die.”
“I’ve always known Della was a good friend,” Fred said, touching his neck and feeling a leather collar. His eyes widened immediately. “You’re treating me like a puppy?!”
“Since you put it that way, Fred, I don’t mind barking at you a couple of times,” Leah smiled.
Fred blinked twice, then wrinkled his nose and made a purring sound from his throat that sounded more like a puppy, which made Leah laugh even harder, her chest heaving.
“You’re really interesting, Fred,” Leah complimented him. “You’re the only one in your family who’s officially dead, but as far as I know, you’re not a peaceful person. This little gadget is to keep you from doing bad things.”
"How did you know I'm thinking of going to find George and scare him?" Fred stood up, twisting his neck as he walked towards Leah. "So, are you keeping me hidden away like a mistress? Or is there something you need my help with?"
“Keeping a mistress in a golden house? You really have the nerve to say that,” Leah gave Fred a strange look, understanding his shamelessness a little better now. “A Weasley was going to die at the wedding, but I chose you instead, and Weasley’s destination was already arranged.”
"A safe house or something? Locking me in a dark basement just so you can bring me a little ray of light when you come?" Fred sat down at Leah's table, his eyes growing increasingly unfocused as he spoke.
"Isn't now a good time to flirt?" Lia muttered, exasperated.
“But you chose me anyway,” Fred smiled slightly. “I think that means my previous persistence has softened your heart.”
"You could say that. If you thought I killed your brother and then looked at me with that resentful look, I might actually feel a little disappointed."
Leah chuckled, not embarrassed by Fred's flirting, but instead throwing back the words after taking them all in, "So, you're right, puppy."
"..." No matter how much he tried to appear mature, Fred was indeed a few years younger than Lia and lacked many years of social experience. Now, hearing the word "little dog" ring in his ears, his face turned red, and he could no longer respond calmly.
Seeing Fred's increasingly pathetic state, Leah laughed a few more times. She leaned over and patted Fred's face, "You're still very green, Fred."
Leah's slap was light, but it stirred up a surge of heat in Fred's body. His heart raced and his head spun, making the sound of the slap seem infinitely louder, so loud that he felt as if a layer of his soul had been shaken away.
“And your safe place is quite spacious, because it seems there are other important people there,” Leah withdrew her hand, glanced sideways at the ledger she was tired of looking at, and sighed, “I’ll send you there in a couple of days.”
"So, will we be together for the next two days?" Fred asked expectantly.
"Do I look like I have the time for that?" Leah retorted, reaching under the table to press a button. "I'll show you my work these next couple of days, and I guess you'll stop being so infatuated with me when you leave."
"What?" Fred didn't understand.
The door opened at that moment, and a pale head popped in. It was Fred, one of Lia's Muggle subordinates. "What's up, Lia? The little boy's awake?"
“You take him with you for one night, and let Elsa give him a good disguise,” Leah nodded. “Remember to give a good introduction of my previous job.”
“I don’t want to go with him, I want to stay with you, Leah,” Fred said immediately.
“Perfect timing. Do you know what the consequences of disobeying orders are?” Leah looked up at Fred.
"What—" Fred didn't finish his sentence before his whole body convulsed, and the collar around his neck released an electric current that almost knocked him unconscious.
“Behave yourself, Fred,” Leah said, looking down at Fred who was slumped on the table. “After all, you’re not a guest here. You’re probably only slightly better than a prisoner. It’s fine to joke around, but you still have to follow my orders.”