At Grimmauld Place, Harry gets an Extendable Ear from the twins, meets the screaming portrait of Walburga Black, and is dragged into a kitchen showdown about secrecy. Sirius wants answers on the table, Molly says no, Remus plays mediator, and Arthur explains why the Ministry and the Daily Prophet are undermining Dumbledore. Harry finally hears what the Order is really doing, including hints about giants, spies inside the Ministry, Kingsley’s cover, and talk of a new weapon Voldemort wants by stealth. When Molly ends the briefing, Harry pointedly keeps Ron and Hermione in the dark and goes to bed still furious.
