"Confringo!"
BOOM.
Light blazed forth as the long-absent sound of explosions once again echoed through the Shelby pub's morning.
"Write to Mom if anything happens."
"Be careful of that old bastard Dumbledore..."
Outside the pub door, Mother Polly helped Theodore adjust his collar, patiently giving quiet instructions.
"Yes, Mom..."
Theodore nodded obediently.
Honestly, the four Arthur brothers had been independent since childhood—they'd never even asked home for pocket money.
As a mother, Mother Polly felt quite unfulfilled.
Theodore's obedient, well-behaved manner almost satisfied all her fantasies about having a son...
Tiger leaned against the car, watching all this with dead fish eyes, his back still aching faintly.
"Tiger, don't blame me."
"Mom can't lift you anymore, so she had to let me handle it. You'll understand, won't you?"
Big brother Arthur approached with a sleazy apologetic smile.
"Of course, my dear brother."
"How could I blame you..."
Tiger smiled warmly as he put his arm around Arthur's shoulder. The moment he lowered his head, his expression changed drastically, his voice grinding through clenched teeth by Arthur's ear.
"Son of a bitch bastard!"
"You better pray Nia's carrying a girl, or I'll swing your son around like nunchucks."
Arthur's smile instantly collapsed.
Among his many emotional chapters, though Nia wasn't the only one, she was the most delicate and enduring stroke.
They'd met at the hospital.
As a nurse, Nia was like a flower blooming with fragrance and hope, giving every patient's soul a place to rest.
Faced with this gentle, kind girl, Arthur couldn't suppress the stirring in his heart. He loved quietly listening to her tell stories about love and beauty.
He'd never brought her to the Shelby pub—he didn't want this girl exposed to the world's dark side.
Of course, none of this could be hidden from Tommy.
The brothers were all waiting to see when he'd bring this girl home.
The day after killing the werewolves, Nia had smiled happily to tell Arthur she was pregnant.
Arthur was completely flustered...
Fortunately, kindness didn't mean stupidity.
After nearly ten years together, Nia had long suspected Arthur's identity. She only hoped Arthur would stay safe.
At the same time, she looked forward to the new life's arrival.
Then Arthur brought Nia back to the Shelby pub, and Mother Polly was overjoyed...
"No... Tiger... you can't..." Arthur said dryly.
"He's your nephew..."
"No, I can!"
Tiger's smile didn't reach his eyes as he pulled up the corners of his mouth.
Damn bastard. I'm still your brother, and don't think I didn't see how happy you looked when you grabbed my ankle.
Just then, the Granger family drove up. Hermione stuck her head out the car window, excitedly waving at Tiger, while Tommy honked the horn, reminding Mother Polly it was time to go.
"Time really flies..."
Watching the two cars depart, Mother Polly suddenly sighed, as if yesterday Tiger had still been that babbling infant, so adorable.
"I wish it didn't go so fast."
Arthur's tone was filled with indescribable feelings, while John beside him was grinning so hard his face nearly split.
The mother and two sons walked back into the Shelby pub.
Inside the pub, a gentle-looking black-haired woman was wiping down tables, smiling very happily.
"Nia, you're awake!"
Arthur hurried over, taking the cloth from her hands and helping the woman sit down.
"Arthur, don't be so nervous." Nia shook her head with amusement. "It's only been two months."
"No, this has nothing to do with time." Arthur seriously brought over breakfast.
As a gangster, he'd never imagined he'd become a father.
But the moment he learned Nia was pregnant, it felt like something was missing from his body, while something else had been added.
Arthur didn't understand this feeling.
He only knew his life and soul were now entrusted to this woman...
Probably sensing Arthur's thoughts, Nia unconsciously began stroking her belly, her smile radiant.
Suddenly remembering his brother's threat, Arthur asked nervously in a low voice:
"Nia, do you prefer boys or girls?"
"Me?"
Nia looked at Arthur, smiling gently:
"What I say doesn't count."
"But boy or girl, whatever my child is like, I'll love them."
"What about you, Arthur? Do you hope what's in my belly is a boy or girl?"
She stroked her belly as she asked.
Her gentle gaze held a hint of mischief—Nia wanted to see this careless man's reaction.
"I hope it's nunchucks..."
Arthur answered somewhat absently.
"What?"
Nia's smile froze.
"Oh, no no no!"
Arthur snapped back to attention.
"I mean... um... I prefer girls... yes... that's right... beautiful like you..."
He rubbed his forehead, explaining clumsily.
"I thought you were hoping I had two limited-edition Colt revolvers in here."
Nia rolled her eyes, both annoyed and amused.
"Of course not, darling..."
Watching her eldest son's clumsy, foolish behavior from afar, Mother Polly laughed wickedly...
At the horizon's edge across the fields, a steam train belched rolling smoke as it approached the distant mountains...
As usual, Hermione had her mouth sealed by Gunpowder. While reading her textbook, her eyes overflowed with joy, her white-socked little feet swaying back and forth.
They'd agreed to meet at nine, but by nine last night, her heart had already filled with anticipation and happiness.
She didn't understand this feeling—sour and sweet, very strange.
After getting up this morning, she'd gone to the kitchen to ask her mother, Mrs. Granger, about this feeling.
However, Mrs. Granger hadn't answered directly, instead raising a meaningful smile and saying softly with raised eyebrows:
"Not understanding is good."
"Feel it carefully, Hermione. It will be the sweetest fruit of your youth..."
Hermione couldn't help looking up at Tiger.
That fierce, violent face, those hostile brows—it didn't look like a place that could grow sweet fruit.
"Hmm?"
Tiger stopped flipping through his textbook, looking at Hermione seriously. She acted like a guilty thief, hastily lowering her head.
"No... nothing..."
After just one word, Hermione tightly shut her mouth—she didn't want Gunpowder taken away.
"Heh..."
Tiger chuckled softly, lowering his head to continue reading the new textbook Wandering with Werewolves.
It had to be said—Mom's junior schoolmate was brilliantly talented. Not only was his magical knowledge extensive, but his writing was excellent too. Tiger hadn't read a book this seriously in a long time.
On the other side, Neville had brought out homemade chocolate cake, even asking his grandmother to find him an Extension Charm pouch for it.
Venom ate with great satisfaction.
Originally it had wanted to feast at Longbottom Manor during the holidays, but it had been too weak.
Absorbing the magical power of a group of Dark wizards and werewolves had only restored it to half strength.
Neville was quite regretful about this.
Just then, the Weasley twins suddenly came looking, identical anxiety on both their faces.
"Excuse me, has anyone seen..."
"Tiger! Hermione!"
"Thank God, we finally found you! Have you seen Harry and Ron?"
"Harry?" Hermione blinked in confusion. "Aren't they on the train?"
"Oh no, we've searched everywhere." Fred covered his face with a dejected sigh.
"We're certain they're not on the train!" George frowned with worry.
"Perhaps I know where they are."
Tiger's somewhat strange voice suddenly spoke up.
Everyone looked at him as Tiger raised his thumb and pointed horizontally toward the window.
The Weasley twins rushed over.
In their view, a blue car was racing alongside the train in flight. Seeing the twins' distinctive red hair, the car immediately approached.
Through the car window, the Weasley twins clearly saw Ron and Harry grinning foolishly at them.
"Cool..." Venom chewed chocolate cake, eyes full of envy. "Tiger, I want to ride that too!"
"Oh! No!"
The twins' wails instantly rang out.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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