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Gryffindor lion. He had seen a badge just like this on Percy's chest on his very first day at Hogwarts. The door banged open. Hermione came tearing into the room, her cheeks flushed and her hair flying. There was an envelope in her hand. 'Did you - did you get -?' She spotted the badge in Harry's hand and let out a shriek. 'I knew it!' she said excitedly, brandishing her letter. 'Me too, Harry, me too!' 'No,' said Harry quickly, pushing the badge back into Ron's hand. 'It's Ron, not me.' 'It - what?' 'Ron's prefect, not me,' Harry said. 'Ron?' said Hermione, her jaw dropping. 'But... are you sure? I mean - ' She turned red as Ron looked round at her with a defiant expression on his lace. 'It's my name on the letter,' he said. 'I...' said	ryffindor lion. He had seen a badge just like this on Percy's chest on his very first day at Hogwarts. The door banged open. Hermione came tearing into the room, her cheeks flushed and her hair flying. There was an envelope in her hand. 'Did you - did you get -?' She spotted the badge in Harry's hand and let out a shriek. 'I knew it!' she said excitedly, brandishing her letter. 'Me too, Harry, me too!' 'No,' said Harry quickly, pushing the badge back into Ron's hand. 'It's Ron, not me.' 'It - what?' 'Ron's prefect, not me,' Harry said. 'Ron?' said Hermione, her jaw dropping. 'But... are you sure? I mean - ' She turned red as Ron looked round at her with a defiant expression on his lace. 'It's my name on the letter,' he said. 'I...' said
Hermione, looking thoroughly bewildered. 'I... well... wow! Well done, Ron! That's really - ' 'Unexpected,' said George, nodding. 'No,' said Hermione, blushing harder than ever, 'no it's not... Ron's done loads of... he's really...' The door behind her opened a little wider and Mrs Weasley bucked into the room carrying a pile of freshly laundered robes. 'Ginny said the booklists had come at last,' she said, glancing around at all the envelopes as she made her way over to the bed and started sorting the robes into two piles. 'If you give them to me I'll take them over to Diagon Alley this afternoon and get your books while you're packing. Ron, I'll have to get you more pyjamas, these are at least six inches too short, I can't believe how fast you're growing... what colour would you like?' 'Get him red and gold to match his badge,'	ione, looking thoroughly bewildered. 'I... well... wow! Well done, Ron! That's really - ' 'Unexpected,' said George, nodding. 'No,' said Hermione, blushing harder than ever, 'no it's not... Ron's done loads of... he's really...' The door behind her opened a little wider and Mrs Weasley bucked into the room carrying a pile of freshly laundered robes. 'Ginny said the booklists had come at last,' she said, glancing around at all the envelopes as she made her way over to the bed and started sorting the robes into two piles. 'If you give them to me I'll take them over to Diagon Alley this afternoon and get your books while you're packing. Ron, I'll have to get you more pyjamas, these are at least six inches too short, I can't believe how fast you're growing... what colour would you like?' 'Get him red and gold to match his badge,'
said George, smirking. 'Match his what?' said Mrs Weasley absently, rolling up a pair of maroon socks and placing them on Ron's pile. 'His badge,' said Fred, with the air of getting the worst over quickly. 'His lovely shiny new prefect's badge.' Fred's words took a moment to penetrate Mrs Weasley's preoccupation with pyjamas. 'His... but... Ron, you're not...?' Ron held up his badge. Mrs Weasley let out a shriek just like Hermione's. 'I don't believe it! I don't believe it! Oh, Ron, how wonderful! A prefect! That's everyone in the family!' 'What are Fred and I, next-door neighbours?' said George indignantly, as his mother pushed him aside and flung her arms around her youngest son. 'Wait until your father hears! Ron, I'm so proud of you, what wonderful news, you could end up	George, smirking. 'Match his what?' said Mrs Weasley absently, rolling up a pair of maroon socks and placing them on Ron's pile. 'His badge,' said Fred, with the air of getting the worst over quickly. 'His lovely shiny new prefect's badge.' Fred's words took a moment to penetrate Mrs Weasley's preoccupation with pyjamas. 'His... but... Ron, you're not...?' Ron held up his badge. Mrs Weasley let out a shriek just like Hermione's. 'I don't believe it! I don't believe it! Oh, Ron, how wonderful! A prefect! That's everyone in the family!' 'What are Fred and I, next-door neighbours?' said George indignantly, as his mother pushed him aside and flung her arms around her youngest son. 'Wait until your father hears! Ron, I'm so proud of you, what wonderful news, you could end up
Head Boy just like Bill and Percy, it's the first step! Oh, what a thing to happen in the middle of all this worry, I'm just thrilled, oh, Ronnie - ' Fred and George were both making loud retching noises behind her back but Mrs Weasley did not notice; arms tight around Ron's neck, she was kissing him all over his face, which had turned a brighter scarlet than his badge. 'Mum... don't... Mum, get a grip...' he muttered, trying to push her away. She let go of him and said breathlessly, 'Well, what will it be? We gave Percy an owl, but you've already got one, of course.' 'W-what do you mean?' said Ron, looking as though he did not dare believe his ears. 'You've got to have a reward for this!' said Mrs Weasley fondly. 'How about a nice new set of dress robes?' 'We've already bought him some,' said Fred sourly, who looked as though he sin	Boy just like Bill and Percy, it's the first step! Oh, what a thing to happen in the middle of all this worry, I'm just thrilled, oh, Ronnie - ' Fred and George were both making loud retching noises behind her back but Mrs Weasley did not notice; arms tight around Ron's neck, she was kissing him all over his face, which had turned a brighter scarlet than his badge. 'Mum... don't... Mum, get a grip...' he muttered, trying to push her away. She let go of him and said breathlessly, 'Well, what will it be? We gave Percy an owl, but you've already got one, of course.' 'W-what do you mean?' said Ron, looking as though he did not dare believe his ears. 'You've got to have a reward for this!' said Mrs Weasley fondly. 'How about a nice new set of dress robes?' 'We've already bought him some,' said Fred sourly, who looked as though he sin
cerely regretted this generosity. 'Or a new cauldron, Charlie's old one's rusting through, or a new rat, you always liked Scabbers - 'Mum,' said Ron hopefully, 'can I have a new broom?' Mrs Weasley's face fell slightly; broomsticks were expensive. 'Not a really good one!' Ron hastened to add. 'Just - just a new one for a change,..' Mrs Weasley hesitated, then smiled. 'Of course you can... well, I'd better get going if I've got a broom to buy too. I'll see you all later... little Ronnie, a prefect! And don't forget to pack your trunks... a prefect... oh, I'm all of a dither!' She gave Ron yet another kiss on the cheek, sniffed loudly, and bustled from the room. Fred and George exchanged looks. 'You don't mind if we don't kiss you, do you, Ron	ely regretted this generosity. 'Or a new cauldron, Charlie's old one's rusting through, or a new rat, you always liked Scabbers - 'Mum,' said Ron hopefully, 'can I have a new broom?' Mrs Weasley's face fell slightly; broomsticks were expensive. 'Not a really good one!' Ron hastened to add. 'Just - just a new one for a change,..' Mrs Weasley hesitated, then smiled. 'Of course you can... well, I'd better get going if I've got a broom to buy too. I'll see you all later... little Ronnie, a prefect! And don't forget to pack your trunks... a prefect... oh, I'm all of a dither!' She gave Ron yet another kiss on the cheek, sniffed loudly, and bustled from the room. Fred and George exchanged looks. 'You don't mind if we don't kiss you, do you, Ron
?' said Fred in a falsely anxious voice. 'We could curtsey, if you like,' said George. 'Oh, shut up,' said Ron, scowling at them. 'Or what?' said Fred, an evil grin spreading across his face. 'Going to put us in detention?' 'I'd love to see him try' sniggered George. 'He could if you don't watch out!' said Hermione angrily. Fred and George burst out laughing, and Ron muttered, 'Drop it, Hermione.' 'We're going to have to watch our step, George,' said Fred, pretending to tremble, 'with these two on our case...' 'Yeah, it looks like our law-breaking days are finally over,' said Cieorge, shaking his head. And with another loud crack, the twins Disapparated. 'Those two!' said Hermione furiously, staring up at the ceiling, through which they could now hear Fred and George roaring with laughter in the room upstairs.	said Fred in a falsely anxious voice. 'We could curtsey, if you like,' said George. 'Oh, shut up,' said Ron, scowling at them. 'Or what?' said Fred, an evil grin spreading across his face. 'Going to put us in detention?' 'I'd love to see him try' sniggered George. 'He could if you don't watch out!' said Hermione angrily. Fred and George burst out laughing, and Ron muttered, 'Drop it, Hermione.' 'We're going to have to watch our step, George,' said Fred, pretending to tremble, 'with these two on our case...' 'Yeah, it looks like our law-breaking days are finally over,' said Cieorge, shaking his head. And with another loud crack, the twins Disapparated. 'Those two!' said Hermione furiously, staring up at the ceiling, through which they could now hear Fred and George roaring with laughter in the room upstairs.
'Don't pay any attention to them, Ron, they're only jealous!' 'I don't think they are,' said Ron doubtfully, also looking up at the ceiling. They've always said only prats become prefects... still,' he added on a happier note, 'they've never had new brooms! I wish I could go with Mum and choose... she'll never be able to afford a Nimbus, but there's the new Cleansweep out, that'd be great... yeah, I think I'll go and tell her I like the Cleansweep, just so she knows...' He dashed from the room, leaving Harry and Hermione alone. For some reason, Harry found he did not want to look at Hermione. He turned to his bed, picked up the pile of clean robes Mrs Weasley had laid on it and crossed the room to his trunk. 'Harry?' said Hermione tentatively. 'Well done, Hermione,' said Harry, so heartily it did not sound like his voice at all, and, still	Don't pay any attention to them, Ron, they're only jealous!' 'I don't think they are,' said Ron doubtfully, also looking up at the ceiling. They've always said only prats become prefects... still,' he added on a happier note, 'they've never had new brooms! I wish I could go with Mum and choose... she'll never be able to afford a Nimbus, but there's the new Cleansweep out, that'd be great... yeah, I think I'll go and tell her I like the Cleansweep, just so she knows...' He dashed from the room, leaving Harry and Hermione alone. For some reason, Harry found he did not want to look at Hermione. He turned to his bed, picked up the pile of clean robes Mrs Weasley had laid on it and crossed the room to his trunk. 'Harry?' said Hermione tentatively. 'Well done, Hermione,' said Harry, so heartily it did not sound like his voice at all, and, still
not looking at her, 'brilliant. Prefect. Great.' 'Thanks,' said Hermione. 'Erm - Harry - could I borrow Hedwig so I can tell Mum and Dad? They'll be really pleased - I mean prefect is something they can understand.' 'Yeah, no problem,' said Harry, still in the horrible hearty voice that did not belong to him. Take her!' He leaned over his trunk, laid the robes on the bottom of it and pretended to be rummaging for something while Hermione crossed to the wardrobe and called Hedwig down. A few moments passed; Harry heard the door close but remained bent double, listening; the only sounds he could hear were the blank picture on the wall sniggering again and the wastepaper basket in the corner coughing up the owl droppings. He straightened up and looked behind him. Hermione had left and Hedwig had gone. Harry hurried across the room, closed the door, then returned slowly to his bed and sank on to it, gazing unseeingly at the foot of the wardrobe. He had forgotten completely about pre	looking at her, 'brilliant. Prefect. Great.' 'Thanks,' said Hermione. 'Erm - Harry - could I borrow Hedwig so I can tell Mum and Dad? They'll be really pleased - I mean prefect is something they can understand.' 'Yeah, no problem,' said Harry, still in the horrible hearty voice that did not belong to him. Take her!' He leaned over his trunk, laid the robes on the bottom of it and pretended to be rummaging for something while Hermione crossed to the wardrobe and called Hedwig down. A few moments passed; Harry heard the door close but remained bent double, listening; the only sounds he could hear were the blank picture on the wall sniggering again and the wastepaper basket in the corner coughing up the owl droppings. He straightened up and looked behind him. Hermione had left and Hedwig had gone. Harry hurried across the room, closed the door, then returned slowly to his bed and sank on to it, gazing unseeingly at the foot of the wardrobe. He had forgotten completely about pre
fects being chosen in the fifth year. He had been too anxious about the possibility of being expelled to spare a thought for the fact that badges must be winging their way towards certain people. But if he had remembered... if he had thought about it... what would he have expected? Not this, said a small and truthful voice inside his head. Harry screwed up his face and buried it in his hands. He could not lie to himself; if he had known the prefect badge was on its way, he would have expected it to come to him, not Ron. Did this make him as arrogant as Draco Malfoy? Did he think himself superior to everyone else? Did he really believe he was better than Ron? No, said the small voice defiantly. Was that true? Harry wondered, anxiously probing his own feelings. I'm better at Quidditch, said the voice. But I'm not better at anything else. That was definitely true, Harry thought; he was no better than Ron in lessons. But what about outside lessons? What about those adventures he, Ron and	s being chosen in the fifth year. He had been too anxious about the possibility of being expelled to spare a thought for the fact that badges must be winging their way towards certain people. But if he had remembered... if he had thought about it... what would he have expected? Not this, said a small and truthful voice inside his head. Harry screwed up his face and buried it in his hands. He could not lie to himself; if he had known the prefect badge was on its way, he would have expected it to come to him, not Ron. Did this make him as arrogant as Draco Malfoy? Did he think himself superior to everyone else? Did he really believe he was better than Ron? No, said the small voice defiantly. Was that true? Harry wondered, anxiously probing his own feelings. I'm better at Quidditch, said the voice. But I'm not better at anything else. That was definitely true, Harry thought; he was no better than Ron in lessons. But what about outside lessons? What about those adventures he, Ron and
Hermione had had together since starting at Hogwarts, often risking much worse than expulsion? Well, Ron and Hermione were with me most of the time, said the voice in Harry's head. Not all the time, though, Harry argued with himself. They didn't fight Quirrell with me. They didn't take on Riddle and the Basilisk. They didn't get rid of all those Dementors the night Sirius escaped. They weren't in that graveyard with me, the night Voldemort returned... And the same feeling of ill-usage that had overwhelmed him on the night he had arrived rose again. I've definitely done more, Harry thought indignantly. I've done more than either of them! But maybe, said the small voice fairly, maybe Dumbledore doesn't choose prefects because they've got themselves into a load of dangerous situations... maybe he chooses them for other reasons... Ron must have something you don't... Harry opened his eyes and stared through his fingers at the wardrobe's clawed	ione had had together since starting at Hogwarts, often risking much worse than expulsion? Well, Ron and Hermione were with me most of the time, said the voice in Harry's head. Not all the time, though, Harry argued with himself. They didn't fight Quirrell with me. They didn't take on Riddle and the Basilisk. They didn't get rid of all those Dementors the night Sirius escaped. They weren't in that graveyard with me, the night Voldemort returned... And the same feeling of ill-usage that had overwhelmed him on the night he had arrived rose again. I've definitely done more, Harry thought indignantly. I've done more than either of them! But maybe, said the small voice fairly, maybe Dumbledore doesn't choose prefects because they've got themselves into a load of dangerous situations... maybe he chooses them for other reasons... Ron must have something you don't... Harry opened his eyes and stared through his fingers at the wardrobe's clawed
feet, remembering what. Fred had said: 'No one in their right mind would make Ron a prefect...' Harry gave a small snort of laughter. A second later he felt sickened with himself. Ron had not asked Dumbledore to give him the prefect badge. This was not Ron's fault. Was he, Harry, Ron's best friend in the world, going to sulk because he didn't, have a badge, laugh with the twins behind Ron's back, ruin this for Ron when, for the first time, he had beaten Harry at something? At this point Harry heard Ron's footsteps on the stairs again. He stood up, straightened his glasses, and hitched a grin on to his face as Ron bounded back through the door. 'Just caught her!' he said happily. 'She says she'll get the Cleansweep if she can.' 'Cool,' Harry said, and he was relieved to hear that his voice had stopped sounding hearty. 'Listen - Ron - well done, mate.' The smile faded off Ron'	, remembering what. Fred had said: 'No one in their right mind would make Ron a prefect...' Harry gave a small snort of laughter. A second later he felt sickened with himself. Ron had not asked Dumbledore to give him the prefect badge. This was not Ron's fault. Was he, Harry, Ron's best friend in the world, going to sulk because he didn't, have a badge, laugh with the twins behind Ron's back, ruin this for Ron when, for the first time, he had beaten Harry at something? At this point Harry heard Ron's footsteps on the stairs again. He stood up, straightened his glasses, and hitched a grin on to his face as Ron bounded back through the door. 'Just caught her!' he said happily. 'She says she'll get the Cleansweep if she can.' 'Cool,' Harry said, and he was relieved to hear that his voice had stopped sounding hearty. 'Listen - Ron - well done, mate.' The smile faded off Ron'
s face. 'I never thought it would be me!' he said, shaking his head. 'I thought it would be you!' 'Nah, I've caused too much trouble,' Harry said, echoing Fred. 'Yeah,' said Ron, 'yeah, I suppose... well, we'd better get our trunks packed, hadn't we?' It was odd how widely their possessions seemed to have scattered themselves since they had arrived. It took them most of the afternoon to retrieve their books and belongings from all over the house and stow them back inside their school trunks. Marry noticed that Ron kept moving his prefect's badge around, first placing it on his bedside table, then putting it into his jeans pocket, then taking it out and lying it on his folded robes, as though to see the effect of the red on the black. Only when Fred and George dropped in and offered to attach it to his forehead with a Permanent Sticking Charm did he wrap it tenderly in his maroon socks and lock it in his trunk. Mrs Weasley returned from Diagon Al	face. 'I never thought it would be me!' he said, shaking his head. 'I thought it would be you!' 'Nah, I've caused too much trouble,' Harry said, echoing Fred. 'Yeah,' said Ron, 'yeah, I suppose... well, we'd better get our trunks packed, hadn't we?' It was odd how widely their possessions seemed to have scattered themselves since they had arrived. It took them most of the afternoon to retrieve their books and belongings from all over the house and stow them back inside their school trunks. Marry noticed that Ron kept moving his prefect's badge around, first placing it on his bedside table, then putting it into his jeans pocket, then taking it out and lying it on his folded robes, as though to see the effect of the red on the black. Only when Fred and George dropped in and offered to attach it to his forehead with a Permanent Sticking Charm did he wrap it tenderly in his maroon socks and lock it in his trunk. Mrs Weasley returned from Diagon Al
ley around six o'clock, laden with books and carrying a long package wrapped in thick brown paper that Ron took from her with a moan of longing. 'Never mind unwrapping it now, people are arriving for dinner, I want you all downstairs,' she said, but the moment she was out of sight Ron ripped off the paper in a frenzy and examined every inch of his new broom, an ecstatic expression on his face. Down in the basement Mrs Weasley had hung a scarlet banner over the heavily laden dinner table, which read: CONGRATULATIONS RON AND HERMIONE NEW PREFECTS She looked in a better mood than Harry had seen her all holiday. 'I thought we'd have a little party not a sit-down dinner,' she told Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George and Ginny as they entered the room. 'Your father and Bill are on their way, Ron. I've sent them both owls and they're thrilled,' she added, beaming. Fred rolled his eyes. Siri	around six o'clock, laden with books and carrying a long package wrapped in thick brown paper that Ron took from her with a moan of longing. 'Never mind unwrapping it now, people are arriving for dinner, I want you all downstairs,' she said, but the moment she was out of sight Ron ripped off the paper in a frenzy and examined every inch of his new broom, an ecstatic expression on his face. Down in the basement Mrs Weasley had hung a scarlet banner over the heavily laden dinner table, which read: CONGRATULATIONS RON AND HERMIONE NEW PREFECTS She looked in a better mood than Harry had seen her all holiday. 'I thought we'd have a little party not a sit-down dinner,' she told Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George and Ginny as they entered the room. 'Your father and Bill are on their way, Ron. I've sent them both owls and they're thrilled,' she added, beaming. Fred rolled his eyes. Siri
us, Lupin, Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt were already there and Mad-Eye Moody stumped in shortly after Harry had got himself a Butterbeer. 'Oh, Alastor, I am glad you're here,' said Mrs Weasley brightly, as Mad-Eye shrugged off his travelling cloak. 'We've been wanting to ask you for ages - could you have a look in the writing desk in the drawing room and tell us what's inside it? We haven't wanted to open it. just in case it's something really nasty.' 'No problem, Molly...' Moody's electric-blue eye swivelled upwards and stared fixedly through the ceiling of the kitchen. Drawing room...' he growled, as the pupil contracted. 'Desk in the corner? Yeah, I see it... yeah, it's a Boggart... want me to go up and get rid of it, Molly?' No, no, I'll do it myself later,' beamed	, Lupin, Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt were already there and Mad-Eye Moody stumped in shortly after Harry had got himself a Butterbeer. 'Oh, Alastor, I am glad you're here,' said Mrs Weasley brightly, as Mad-Eye shrugged off his travelling cloak. 'We've been wanting to ask you for ages - could you have a look in the writing desk in the drawing room and tell us what's inside it? We haven't wanted to open it. just in case it's something really nasty.' 'No problem, Molly...' Moody's electric-blue eye swivelled upwards and stared fixedly through the ceiling of the kitchen. Drawing room...' he growled, as the pupil contracted. 'Desk in the corner? Yeah, I see it... yeah, it's a Boggart... want me to go up and get rid of it, Molly?' No, no, I'll do it myself later,' beamed
Mrs Weasley, 'you have your drink. We're having a little bit of a celebration, actually...' She gestured at the scarlet banner. 'Fourth prefect in the family!' she said fondly, ruffling Ron's hair. 'Prefect, eh?' growled Moody, his normal eye on Ron and his magical eye swivelling around to gaze into the side of his head. Harry had the very uncomfortable feeling it was looking at him and moved away towards Sirius and Lupin. 'Well, congratulations,' said Moody, still glaring at Ron with his normal eye, 'authority figures always attract trouble, but I suppose Dumbledore thinks you can withstand most major jinxes or he wouldn't have appointed you...' Ron looked rather startled at this view of the matter but was saved the trouble of responding by the arrival of his father and eldest brother. Mrs Weasley was in such a good mood she did not even complain that they had brought Mundungus with them; he was wearing a long overcoat that	Weasley, 'you have your drink. We're having a little bit of a celebration, actually...' She gestured at the scarlet banner. 'Fourth prefect in the family!' she said fondly, ruffling Ron's hair. 'Prefect, eh?' growled Moody, his normal eye on Ron and his magical eye swivelling around to gaze into the side of his head. Harry had the very uncomfortable feeling it was looking at him and moved away towards Sirius and Lupin. 'Well, congratulations,' said Moody, still glaring at Ron with his normal eye, 'authority figures always attract trouble, but I suppose Dumbledore thinks you can withstand most major jinxes or he wouldn't have appointed you...' Ron looked rather startled at this view of the matter but was saved the trouble of responding by the arrival of his father and eldest brother. Mrs Weasley was in such a good mood she did not even complain that they had brought Mundungus with them; he was wearing a long overcoat that
seemed oddly lumpy in unlikely places and declined the offer to remove it and put it with Moody's travelling cloak. 'Well, I think a toast is in order,' said Mr Weasley, when everyone had a drink. He raised his goblet. To Ron and Hermione, the new Gryffindor prefects!' Ron and Hermione beamed as everyone drank to them, and then applauded. 'I was never a prefect myself,' said Tonks brightly from behind Harry as everybody moved towards the table to help themselves to food. Her hair was tomato red and waist-length today; she looked like Ginny's older sister. 'My Head of House said I lacked certain necessary qualities.' 'Like what?' said Ginny, who was choosing a baked potato. 'Like the ability to behave myself,' said Tonks. Ginny laughed; Hermione looked as though she did not know whether to smile or not and compromised by taking an extra large gulp of Butterbeer and choking on it. 'What about you, Sirius	oddly lumpy in unlikely places and declined the offer to remove it and put it with Moody's travelling cloak. 'Well, I think a toast is in order,' said Mr Weasley, when everyone had a drink. He raised his goblet. To Ron and Hermione, the new Gryffindor prefects!' Ron and Hermione beamed as everyone drank to them, and then applauded. 'I was never a prefect myself,' said Tonks brightly from behind Harry as everybody moved towards the table to help themselves to food. Her hair was tomato red and waist-length today; she looked like Ginny's older sister. 'My Head of House said I lacked certain necessary qualities.' 'Like what?' said Ginny, who was choosing a baked potato. 'Like the ability to behave myself,' said Tonks. Ginny laughed; Hermione looked as though she did not know whether to smile or not and compromised by taking an extra large gulp of Butterbeer and choking on it. 'What about you, Sirius
?' Ginny asked, thumping Hermione on the back. Sirius, who was right beside Harry, let out his usual bark-like laugh. 'No one would have made me a prefect, I spent too much time in detention with James. Lupin was the good boy, he got the badge.' 'I think Dumbledore might have hoped I would be able to exercise some control over my best friends,' said Lupin. 'I need scarcely say that I failed dismally.' Harry's mood suddenly lifted. His father had not been a prefect either. All at once the party seemed much more enjoyable; he loaded up his plate, feeling doubly fond of everyone in the room. Ron was rhapsodising about his new broom to anybody who would listen. '... nought to seventy in ten seconds, not bad, is it? When you think the Comet Two Ninety's only nought to sixty and that's with a decent tailwind according to Which Broomstick?' Hermione was talking very earnestly to Lupin about her view of elf rights	Ginny asked, thumping Hermione on the back. Sirius, who was right beside Harry, let out his usual bark-like laugh. 'No one would have made me a prefect, I spent too much time in detention with James. Lupin was the good boy, he got the badge.' 'I think Dumbledore might have hoped I would be able to exercise some control over my best friends,' said Lupin. 'I need scarcely say that I failed dismally.' Harry's mood suddenly lifted. His father had not been a prefect either. All at once the party seemed much more enjoyable; he loaded up his plate, feeling doubly fond of everyone in the room. Ron was rhapsodising about his new broom to anybody who would listen. '... nought to seventy in ten seconds, not bad, is it? When you think the Comet Two Ninety's only nought to sixty and that's with a decent tailwind according to Which Broomstick?' Hermione was talking very earnestly to Lupin about her view of elf rights
. 'I mean, it's the same kind of nonsense as werewolf segregation, isn't it? It all stems from this horrible thing wizards have of thinking they're superior to other creatures...' Mrs Weasley and Bill were having their usual argument about Bill's hair. '... getting really out of hand, and you're so good-looking, it would look much better shorter, wouldn't it, Harry?' Oh - I dunno -'said Harry, slightly alarmed at being asked his opinion; he slid away from them in the direction of Fred and George, who were huddled in a corner with Mundungus. Mundungus stopped talking when he saw Harry, but Fred winked and beckoned Harry closer. 'It's OK,' he told Mundungus, 'we can trust Harry, he's our financial backer.' 'Look what Dung's got us,' said George, holding out his hand to Harry. It was full of what looked like shrivelled black pods. A faint r	'I mean, it's the same kind of nonsense as werewolf segregation, isn't it? It all stems from this horrible thing wizards have of thinking they're superior to other creatures...' Mrs Weasley and Bill were having their usual argument about Bill's hair. '... getting really out of hand, and you're so good-looking, it would look much better shorter, wouldn't it, Harry?' Oh - I dunno -'said Harry, slightly alarmed at being asked his opinion; he slid away from them in the direction of Fred and George, who were huddled in a corner with Mundungus. Mundungus stopped talking when he saw Harry, but Fred winked and beckoned Harry closer. 'It's OK,' he told Mundungus, 'we can trust Harry, he's our financial backer.' 'Look what Dung's got us,' said George, holding out his hand to Harry. It was full of what looked like shrivelled black pods. A faint r
attling noise was coming from them, even though they were completely stationary. 'Venomous Tentacula seeds,' said George. 'We need them for the Skiving Snackboxes but they're a Class C Non-Tradeable Substance so we've been having a bit of trouble getting hold of them.' 'Ten Galleons the lot, then, Dung?' said Fred. 'Wiv all the trouble I went to to get 'em?' said Mundungus, his saggy, bloodshot eyes stretching even wider. 'I'm sorry, lads, but I'm not taking a Knut under twenty.' 'Dung likes his little joke,' Fred said to Harry. 'Yeah, his best one so far has been six Sickles for a bag of Knarl quills,' said George. 'Be careful,' Harry warned them quietly. 'What?' said Fred. 'Mum's busy cooing over Prefect Ron, we're OK.' 'But Moody could have his eye on you.' Harry pointed out. M	ling noise was coming from them, even though they were completely stationary. 'Venomous Tentacula seeds,' said George. 'We need them for the Skiving Snackboxes but they're a Class C Non-Tradeable Substance so we've been having a bit of trouble getting hold of them.' 'Ten Galleons the lot, then, Dung?' said Fred. 'Wiv all the trouble I went to to get 'em?' said Mundungus, his saggy, bloodshot eyes stretching even wider. 'I'm sorry, lads, but I'm not taking a Knut under twenty.' 'Dung likes his little joke,' Fred said to Harry. 'Yeah, his best one so far has been six Sickles for a bag of Knarl quills,' said George. 'Be careful,' Harry warned them quietly. 'What?' said Fred. 'Mum's busy cooing over Prefect Ron, we're OK.' 'But Moody could have his eye on you.' Harry pointed out. M
undungus looked nervously over his shoulder. 'Good point, that,' he grunted. 'All right, lads, ten it is, if you'll take 'em quick.' 'Cheers, Harry!' said Fred delightedly, when Mundungus had emptied his pockets into the twins' outstretched hands and scuttled off towards the food. 'We'd better get these upstairs...' Harry watched them go, feeling slightly uneasy. It had just occurred to him that Mr and Mrs Weasley would want to know how Fred and George were financing their joke shop business when, as was inevitable, they finally found out about it. Giving the twins his Triwizard winnings had seemed a simple thing to do at the time, but what if it led to another family row and a Percy-like estrangement? Would Mrs Weasley still feel that Harry was as good as her son if she found out he had made it possible for Fred and George to start a career she thought quite unsuitable? Standing where the twins had left him, with nothing but a guilty weight	ungus looked nervously over his shoulder. 'Good point, that,' he grunted. 'All right, lads, ten it is, if you'll take 'em quick.' 'Cheers, Harry!' said Fred delightedly, when Mundungus had emptied his pockets into the twins' outstretched hands and scuttled off towards the food. 'We'd better get these upstairs...' Harry watched them go, feeling slightly uneasy. It had just occurred to him that Mr and Mrs Weasley would want to know how Fred and George were financing their joke shop business when, as was inevitable, they finally found out about it. Giving the twins his Triwizard winnings had seemed a simple thing to do at the time, but what if it led to another family row and a Percy-like estrangement? Would Mrs Weasley still feel that Harry was as good as her son if she found out he had made it possible for Fred and George to start a career she thought quite unsuitable? Standing where the twins had left him, with nothing but a guilty weight
in the pit of his stomach for company, Harry caught the sound of his own name. Kingsley Shacklebolts deep voice was audible even over the surrounding chatter. '... why Dumbledore didn't make Potter a prefect?' said Kingsley. 'He'll have had his reasons,' replied Lupin. 'But it would've shown confidence in him. It's what I'd've done,' persisted Kingsley,''specially with the Daily Prophet having a go at him every few days...' Harry did not look round; he did not want Lupin or Kingsley to know he had heard. Though not remotely hungry, he followed Mundungus back towards the table. His pleasure in the party had evaporated as quickly as it had come; he wished he were upstairs in bed. Mad-Eye Moody was sniffing at a chicken-leg with what remained of his nose; evidently he could not detect any trace of poison, because he then tore a strip off it with his teeth. '... the handle's made	the pit of his stomach for company, Harry caught the sound of his own name. Kingsley Shacklebolts deep voice was audible even over the surrounding chatter. '... why Dumbledore didn't make Potter a prefect?' said Kingsley. 'He'll have had his reasons,' replied Lupin. 'But it would've shown confidence in him. It's what I'd've done,' persisted Kingsley,''specially with the Daily Prophet having a go at him every few days...' Harry did not look round; he did not want Lupin or Kingsley to know he had heard. Though not remotely hungry, he followed Mundungus back towards the table. His pleasure in the party had evaporated as quickly as it had come; he wished he were upstairs in bed. Mad-Eye Moody was sniffing at a chicken-leg with what remained of his nose; evidently he could not detect any trace of poison, because he then tore a strip off it with his teeth. '... the handle's made
of Spanish oak with anti-jinx varnish and in-built vibration control -'Ron was saying to Tonks. Mrs Weasley yawned widely. 'Well, I think I'll sort out that Boggart before I turn in... Arthur, I don't want this lot up too late, all right? Night, Harry, dear.' She left the kitchen. Harry set down his plate and wondered whether he could follow her without attracting attention. 'You all right, Potter?' grunted Moody. 'Yeah, fine,' lied Harry. Moody took a swig from his hipflask, his electric-blue eye staring sideways at Harry. 'Come here, I've got something that might interest you,' he said. From an inner pocket of his robes Moody pulled a very tattered old wizarding photograph. 'Original Order of the Phoenix,' growled Moody. 'Found it last night when I was looking for my spare Invisibility Cloak, seeing as Podmore hasn't had the manners to return my best one... thought	Spanish oak with anti-jinx varnish and in-built vibration control -'Ron was saying to Tonks. Mrs Weasley yawned widely. 'Well, I think I'll sort out that Boggart before I turn in... Arthur, I don't want this lot up too late, all right? Night, Harry, dear.' She left the kitchen. Harry set down his plate and wondered whether he could follow her without attracting attention. 'You all right, Potter?' grunted Moody. 'Yeah, fine,' lied Harry. Moody took a swig from his hipflask, his electric-blue eye staring sideways at Harry. 'Come here, I've got something that might interest you,' he said. From an inner pocket of his robes Moody pulled a very tattered old wizarding photograph. 'Original Order of the Phoenix,' growled Moody. 'Found it last night when I was looking for my spare Invisibility Cloak, seeing as Podmore hasn't had the manners to return my best one... thought
people might like to see it.' Harry took the photograph. A small crowd of people, some waving at him, others lifting their glasses, looked back up at him. 'There's me,' said Moody, unnecessarily pointing at himself. The Moody in the picture was unmistakeable, though his hair was slightly less grey and his nose was intact. 'And there's Dumbledore beside me, Dedalus Diggle on the other side... that's Marlene McKinnon, she was killed two weeks after this was taken, they got her whole family. That's Frank and Alice Longbottom - ' Harry's stomach, already uncomfortable, clenched as he looked at Alice Longbottom; he knew her round, friendly face very well, even though he had never met her, because she was the image of her son, Neville. '- poor devils,' growled Moody. 'Better dead than what happened to them... and that's Emmeline Vance, you've met her, and that there's Lupin, obviously... Benjy	might like to see it.' Harry took the photograph. A small crowd of people, some waving at him, others lifting their glasses, looked back up at him. 'There's me,' said Moody, unnecessarily pointing at himself. The Moody in the picture was unmistakeable, though his hair was slightly less grey and his nose was intact. 'And there's Dumbledore beside me, Dedalus Diggle on the other side... that's Marlene McKinnon, she was killed two weeks after this was taken, they got her whole family. That's Frank and Alice Longbottom - ' Harry's stomach, already uncomfortable, clenched as he looked at Alice Longbottom; he knew her round, friendly face very well, even though he had never met her, because she was the image of her son, Neville. '- poor devils,' growled Moody. 'Better dead than what happened to them... and that's Emmeline Vance, you've met her, and that there's Lupin, obviously... Benjy
Fenwick, he copped it too, we only ever found bits of him... shift aside there,' he added, poking the picture, and the little photographic people edged sideways, so that those who were partially obscured could move to the front. 'That's Edgar Bones... brother of Amelia Bones, they got him and his family, too, he was a great wizard... Sturgis Podmore, blimey, he looks young... Caradoc Dearborn, vanished six months after this, we never found his body... Hagrid, of course, looks exactly the same as ever... Elphias Doge, you've met him, I'd forgotten he used to wear that stupid hat... Gideon Prewett, it took five Death Eaters to kill him and his brother Fabian, they fought like heroes... budge along, budge along...' The little people in the photograph jostled among themselves and those hidden right at the back appeared at the forefront of the picture. That's Dumbledore's brother Aber	wick, he copped it too, we only ever found bits of him... shift aside there,' he added, poking the picture, and the little photographic people edged sideways, so that those who were partially obscured could move to the front. 'That's Edgar Bones... brother of Amelia Bones, they got him and his family, too, he was a great wizard... Sturgis Podmore, blimey, he looks young... Caradoc Dearborn, vanished six months after this, we never found his body... Hagrid, of course, looks exactly the same as ever... Elphias Doge, you've met him, I'd forgotten he used to wear that stupid hat... Gideon Prewett, it took five Death Eaters to kill him and his brother Fabian, they fought like heroes... budge along, budge along...' The little people in the photograph jostled among themselves and those hidden right at the back appeared at the forefront of the picture. That's Dumbledore's brother Aber
forth, only time I ever met him, strange bloke... that's Dorcas Meadowes, Voldemort killed her personally... Sirius, when he still had short hair... and... there you go, thought that would interest you!' Harry's heart turned over. His mother and father were beaming up at him, sitting on either side of a small, watery-eyed man whom Harry recognised at once as Wormtail, the one who had betrayed his parents' whereabouts to Voldemort and so helped to bring about their deaths. 'Eh?' said Moody. Harry looked up into Moody s heavily scarred and pitted face. Evidently Moody was under the impression he had just given Harry a bit of a treat. 'Yeah,' said Harry, once again attempting to grin. 'Er... listen, I've just remembered, I haven't packed my...' He was spared the trouble of inventing an object he had not packed. Sirius had just said, 'What's that you've got	th, only time I ever met him, strange bloke... that's Dorcas Meadowes, Voldemort killed her personally... Sirius, when he still had short hair... and... there you go, thought that would interest you!' Harry's heart turned over. His mother and father were beaming up at him, sitting on either side of a small, watery-eyed man whom Harry recognised at once as Wormtail, the one who had betrayed his parents' whereabouts to Voldemort and so helped to bring about their deaths. 'Eh?' said Moody. Harry looked up into Moody s heavily scarred and pitted face. Evidently Moody was under the impression he had just given Harry a bit of a treat. 'Yeah,' said Harry, once again attempting to grin. 'Er... listen, I've just remembered, I haven't packed my...' He was spared the trouble of inventing an object he had not packed. Sirius had just said, 'What's that you've got
there, Mad-Eye?' and Moody had turned towards him. Harry crossed the kitchen, slipped through the door and up the stairs before anyone could call him back. He did not know why it had been such a shock; he had seen pictures of his parents before, after all, and he had met Wormtail... but to have them sprung on him like that, when he was least expecting it... no one would like that, he thought angrily... And then, to see them surrounded by all those other happy faces... Benjy Fenwick, who had been found in bits, and Gideon Prewett, who had died like a hero, and the Longbottoms, who had been tortured into madness... all waving happily out of the photograph forever more, not knowing that they were doomed... well, Moody might find that interesting... he, Harry, found it disturbing... Harry tiptoed up the stairs in the hall past the stuffed elf-heads, glad to be on his own again, but as he approached the first landing he heard noises	, Mad-Eye?' and Moody had turned towards him. Harry crossed the kitchen, slipped through the door and up the stairs before anyone could call him back. He did not know why it had been such a shock; he had seen pictures of his parents before, after all, and he had met Wormtail... but to have them sprung on him like that, when he was least expecting it... no one would like that, he thought angrily... And then, to see them surrounded by all those other happy faces... Benjy Fenwick, who had been found in bits, and Gideon Prewett, who had died like a hero, and the Longbottoms, who had been tortured into madness... all waving happily out of the photograph forever more, not knowing that they were doomed... well, Moody might find that interesting... he, Harry, found it disturbing... Harry tiptoed up the stairs in the hall past the stuffed elf-heads, glad to be on his own again, but as he approached the first landing he heard noises
. Someone was sobbing in the drawing room. 'Hello?' Harry said. There was no answer but the sobbing continued. He climbed the remaining stairs two at a time, walked across the landing and opened the drawing-room door. Someone was cowering against the dark wall, her wand in her hand, her whole body shaking with sobs. Sprawled on the dusty old carpet in a patch of moonlight, clearly dead, was Ron. All the air seemed to vanish from Harry's lungs; he felt as though he were falling through the floor; his brain turned icy cold - Ron dead, no, it couldn't be - ' But wait a moment, it couldn't be - Ron was downstairs - 'Mrs Weasley?' Harry croaked. 'R - r - riddikulus!' Mrs Weasley sobbed, pointing her shaking wand at Ron's body. Crack, Ron's body turned into Bill's, spread-eagled on his back, his eyes wide open and empty. Mrs Weasley so	Someone was sobbing in the drawing room. 'Hello?' Harry said. There was no answer but the sobbing continued. He climbed the remaining stairs two at a time, walked across the landing and opened the drawing-room door. Someone was cowering against the dark wall, her wand in her hand, her whole body shaking with sobs. Sprawled on the dusty old carpet in a patch of moonlight, clearly dead, was Ron. All the air seemed to vanish from Harry's lungs; he felt as though he were falling through the floor; his brain turned icy cold - Ron dead, no, it couldn't be - ' But wait a moment, it couldn't be - Ron was downstairs - 'Mrs Weasley?' Harry croaked. 'R - r - riddikulus!' Mrs Weasley sobbed, pointing her shaking wand at Ron's body. Crack, Ron's body turned into Bill's, spread-eagled on his back, his eyes wide open and empty. Mrs Weasley so
bbed harder than ever. 'R - riddikulus!' she sobbed again. Crack. Mr Weasley's body replaced Bill's, his glasses askew, a trickle of blood running down his face. 'No!' Mrs Weasley moaned. 'No... riddikulus! Riddikulus! RID-DIKULUS!' Crack. Dead twins. Crack. Dead Percy. Crack. Dead Harry... 'Mrs Weasley, just get out of here!' shouted Harry, staring down at his own dead body on the floor. 'Let someone else - ' 'What's going on?' Lupin had come running into the room, closely followed by Sirius, with Moody stumping along behind them. Lupin looked from Mrs Weasley to the dead Harry on the floor and seemed to understand in an instant. Pulling out his own wand, he said, very firmly and clearly: 'Riddikulus!' Harry's body vanished. A silvery orb hung	ed harder than ever. 'R - riddikulus!' she sobbed again. Crack. Mr Weasley's body replaced Bill's, his glasses askew, a trickle of blood running down his face. 'No!' Mrs Weasley moaned. 'No... riddikulus! Riddikulus! RID-DIKULUS!' Crack. Dead twins. Crack. Dead Percy. Crack. Dead Harry... 'Mrs Weasley, just get out of here!' shouted Harry, staring down at his own dead body on the floor. 'Let someone else - ' 'What's going on?' Lupin had come running into the room, closely followed by Sirius, with Moody stumping along behind them. Lupin looked from Mrs Weasley to the dead Harry on the floor and seemed to understand in an instant. Pulling out his own wand, he said, very firmly and clearly: 'Riddikulus!' Harry's body vanished. A silvery orb hung
in the air over the spot where it had lain. Lupin waved his wand once more and the orb vanished in a puff of smoke. 'Oh - oh - oh!' gulped Mrs Weasley, and she broke into a storm of crying, her face in her hands. 'Molly' said Lupin bleakly, walking over to her. 'Molly don't...' Next second, she was sobbing her heart out on Lupin's shoulder. 'Molly it was just a Boggart,' he said soothingly, patting her on the head. 'Just a stupid Boggart.,.' 'I see them d - d - dead all the time!' Mrs Weasley moaned into his shoulder. 'All the t - t - time! I d - d - dream about it...' Sirius was staring at the patch of carpet where the Boggart, pretending to be Harry's body, had lain. Moody was looking at Harry, who avoided his gaze. He had a funny feeling Moody's magical eye	the air over the spot where it had lain. Lupin waved his wand once more and the orb vanished in a puff of smoke. 'Oh - oh - oh!' gulped Mrs Weasley, and she broke into a storm of crying, her face in her hands. 'Molly' said Lupin bleakly, walking over to her. 'Molly don't...' Next second, she was sobbing her heart out on Lupin's shoulder. 'Molly it was just a Boggart,' he said soothingly, patting her on the head. 'Just a stupid Boggart.,.' 'I see them d - d - dead all the time!' Mrs Weasley moaned into his shoulder. 'All the t - t - time! I d - d - dream about it...' Sirius was staring at the patch of carpet where the Boggart, pretending to be Harry's body, had lain. Moody was looking at Harry, who avoided his gaze. He had a funny feeling Moody's magical eye
had followed him all the way out of the kitchen. 'D - d - don't tell Arthur,' Mrs Weasley was gulping now, mopping her eyes frantically with her cuffs. 'I d - d - don't want him to know... being silly...' Lupin handed her a handkerchief and she blew her nose. 'Harry, I'm so sorry. What must you think of me?' she said shakily. 'Not even able to get rid of a Boggart...' 'Don't be stupid,' said Harry, trying to smile. 'I'm just s - s - so worried,' she said, tears spilling out of her eyes again. 'Half the f - f - family's in the Order, it'll b - b - be a miracle if we all come through this... and P - P - Percy's not talking to us... what if something d-d - dreadful happens and we've never m - m - made it up with him? And what's going to happen if Arthur	followed him all the way out of the kitchen. 'D - d - don't tell Arthur,' Mrs Weasley was gulping now, mopping her eyes frantically with her cuffs. 'I d - d - don't want him to know... being silly...' Lupin handed her a handkerchief and she blew her nose. 'Harry, I'm so sorry. What must you think of me?' she said shakily. 'Not even able to get rid of a Boggart...' 'Don't be stupid,' said Harry, trying to smile. 'I'm just s - s - so worried,' she said, tears spilling out of her eyes again. 'Half the f - f - family's in the Order, it'll b - b - be a miracle if we all come through this... and P - P - Percy's not talking to us... what if something d-d - dreadful happens and we've never m - m - made it up with him? And what's going to happen if Arthur
and I get killed, who's g - g - going to look after Ron and Ginny?' 'Molly, that's enough,' said Lupin firmly. This isn't like last time. The Order are better prepared, we've got a head start, we know what Voldemort's up to - ' Mrs Weasley gave a little squeak of fright at the sound of the name. 'Oh, Molly, come on, it's about time you got used to hearing his name - look, I can't promise no one's going to get hurt, nobody can promise that, but we're much better off than we were last time. You weren't in the Order then, you don't understand. Last time we were outnumbered twenty to one by the Death Eaters and they were picking us off one by one...' Harry thought of the photograph again, of his parents' beaming faces. He knew Moody was still watching him. 'Don't worry about Percy,' said Sirius abruptly. 'He'll come round. It's only a matter	I get killed, who's g - g - going to look after Ron and Ginny?' 'Molly, that's enough,' said Lupin firmly. This isn't like last time. The Order are better prepared, we've got a head start, we know what Voldemort's up to - ' Mrs Weasley gave a little squeak of fright at the sound of the name. 'Oh, Molly, come on, it's about time you got used to hearing his name - look, I can't promise no one's going to get hurt, nobody can promise that, but we're much better off than we were last time. You weren't in the Order then, you don't understand. Last time we were outnumbered twenty to one by the Death Eaters and they were picking us off one by one...' Harry thought of the photograph again, of his parents' beaming faces. He knew Moody was still watching him. 'Don't worry about Percy,' said Sirius abruptly. 'He'll come round. It's only a matter
of time before Voldemort moves into the open; once he does, the whole Ministry's going to be begging us to forgive them. And I'm not sure I'll be accepting their apology,' he added bitterly. 'And as for who's going to look after Ron and Ginny if you and Arthur died,' said Lupin, smiling slightly, 'what do you think we'd do, let them starve?' Mrs Weasley smiled tremulously. 'Being silly,' she muttered again, mopping her eyes. But Harry, closing his bedroom door behind him some ten minutes later, could not think Mrs Weasley silly. He could still see his parents beaming up at him from the battered old photograph, unaware that their lives, like so many of those around them, were drawing to a close. The image of the Boggart posing as the corpse of each member of Mrs Weasley's family in turn kept flashing before his eyes. Without warning, the scar on his forehead seared with pain again and his stomach churned horribly. 'Cut	time before Voldemort moves into the open; once he does, the whole Ministry's going to be begging us to forgive them. And I'm not sure I'll be accepting their apology,' he added bitterly. 'And as for who's going to look after Ron and Ginny if you and Arthur died,' said Lupin, smiling slightly, 'what do you think we'd do, let them starve?' Mrs Weasley smiled tremulously. 'Being silly,' she muttered again, mopping her eyes. But Harry, closing his bedroom door behind him some ten minutes later, could not think Mrs Weasley silly. He could still see his parents beaming up at him from the battered old photograph, unaware that their lives, like so many of those around them, were drawing to a close. The image of the Boggart posing as the corpse of each member of Mrs Weasley's family in turn kept flashing before his eyes. Without warning, the scar on his forehead seared with pain again and his stomach churned horribly. 'Cut
it out,' he said firmly, rubbing the scar as the pain receded. 'First sign of madness, talking to your own head,' said a sly voice from the empty picture on the wall. Harry ignored it. He felt older than he had ever felt in his life and it seemed extraordinary to him that barely an hour ago he had been worried about a joke shop and who had got a prefects badge. - CHAPTER TEN - Luna Lovegood Harry had a troubled nights sleep. His parents wove in and out of his dreams, never speaking; Mrs Weasley sobbed over Kreacher's dead body, watched by Ron and Hermione who were wearing crowns, and yet again Harry found himself walking clown a corridor ending in a locked door. He awoke abruptly with his scar prickling to find Ron already dressed and talking to him. '... better hurry up, Mums going ballistic, she says we're going to miss the train...' There was a lot of commotion in the house. From what he heard as he dressed	out,' he said firmly, rubbing the scar as the pain receded. 'First sign of madness, talking to your own head,' said a sly voice from the empty picture on the wall. Harry ignored it. He felt older than he had ever felt in his life and it seemed extraordinary to him that barely an hour ago he had been worried about a joke shop and who had got a prefects badge. - CHAPTER TEN - Luna Lovegood Harry had a troubled nights sleep. His parents wove in and out of his dreams, never speaking; Mrs Weasley sobbed over Kreacher's dead body, watched by Ron and Hermione who were wearing crowns, and yet again Harry found himself walking clown a corridor ending in a locked door. He awoke abruptly with his scar prickling to find Ron already dressed and talking to him. '... better hurry up, Mums going ballistic, she says we're going to miss the train...' There was a lot of commotion in the house. From what he heard as he dressed
at top speed, Harry gathered that Fred and George had bewitched their trunks to fly downstairs to save the bother of carrying them, with the result that they had hurtled straight into Ginny and knocked her down two flights of stairs into the hall; Mrs Black and Mrs Weasley were both screaming at the top of their voices. '- COULD HAVE DONE HER A SERIOUS INJURY, YOU IDIOTS - ' '- FILTHY HALF-BREEDS, BESMIRCHING THE HOUSE OF MY FATHERS - ' Hermione came hurrying into the room looking flustered, just as Harry was putting on his trainers. Hedwig was swaying or her shoulder, and she was carrying a squirming Crookshanks in her arms. 'Mum and Dad just sent Hedwig back.' The owl fluttered obligingly over and perched on top of her cage. Are you ready yet?' 'Nearly. Is Ginny all right?' Harry asked, shoving on his glasses.	top speed, Harry gathered that Fred and George had bewitched their trunks to fly downstairs to save the bother of carrying them, with the result that they had hurtled straight into Ginny and knocked her down two flights of stairs into the hall; Mrs Black and Mrs Weasley were both screaming at the top of their voices. '- COULD HAVE DONE HER A SERIOUS INJURY, YOU IDIOTS - ' '- FILTHY HALF-BREEDS, BESMIRCHING THE HOUSE OF MY FATHERS - ' Hermione came hurrying into the room looking flustered, just as Harry was putting on his trainers. Hedwig was swaying or her shoulder, and she was carrying a squirming Crookshanks in her arms. 'Mum and Dad just sent Hedwig back.' The owl fluttered obligingly over and perched on top of her cage. Are you ready yet?' 'Nearly. Is Ginny all right?' Harry asked, shoving on his glasses.
'Mrs Weasley's patched her up,' said Hermione. 'But now Mad-Eye's complaining that we can't leave unless Sturgis Podmore's here, otherwise the guard will be one short.' 'Guard?' said Harry. 'We have to go to King's Cross with a guard?' 'You have to go to King's Cross with a guard,' Hermione corrected him. 'Why?' said Harry irritably. 'I thought Voldemort was supposed to be lying low, or are you telling me he's going to jump out from behind a dustbin to try and do me in.' 'I don't know, it's just what Mad-Eye says,' said Hermione distractedly, looking at her watch, 'but if we don't leave soon we're definitely going to miss the train...' 'WILL YOU LOT GET DOWN HERE NOW, PLEASE!' Mrs Weasley bellowed and Hermione jumped as though scalded and hurried out of the room. Harry seized Hedwig, stuffed her unceremoniously	'Mrs Weasley's patched her up,' said Hermione. 'But now Mad-Eye's complaining that we can't leave unless Sturgis Podmore's here, otherwise the guard will be one short.' 'Guard?' said Harry. 'We have to go to King's Cross with a guard?' 'You have to go to King's Cross with a guard,' Hermione corrected him. 'Why?' said Harry irritably. 'I thought Voldemort was supposed to be lying low, or are you telling me he's going to jump out from behind a dustbin to try and do me in.' 'I don't know, it's just what Mad-Eye says,' said Hermione distractedly, looking at her watch, 'but if we don't leave soon we're definitely going to miss the train...' 'WILL YOU LOT GET DOWN HERE NOW, PLEASE!' Mrs Weasley bellowed and Hermione jumped as though scalded and hurried out of the room. Harry seized Hedwig, stuffed her unceremoniously
into her cage, and set off downstairs after Hermione, dragging his trunk. Mrs Black's portrait was howling with rage but nobody was bothering to close the curtains over her; all the noise in the hall was bound to rouse her again, anyway. 'Harry, you're to come with me and Tonks,' shouted Mrs Weasley over the repeated screeches of 'MUDBLOODS! SCUM! CREATURES OF DIRT!' - 'Leave your trunk and your owl, Alastor's going to deal with the luggage... oh, for heavens sake, Sirius, Dumbledore said no!' A bear-like black dog had appeared at Harry's side as he was clambering over the various trunks cluttering the hall to get to Mrs Weasley. 'Oh honestly...' said Mrs Weasley despairingly. 'Well, on your own head be it!' She wrenched open the front door and stepped out into the weak September sunlight. Harry and the dog followed her.	her cage, and set off downstairs after Hermione, dragging his trunk. Mrs Black's portrait was howling with rage but nobody was bothering to close the curtains over her; all the noise in the hall was bound to rouse her again, anyway. 'Harry, you're to come with me and Tonks,' shouted Mrs Weasley over the repeated screeches of 'MUDBLOODS! SCUM! CREATURES OF DIRT!' - 'Leave your trunk and your owl, Alastor's going to deal with the luggage... oh, for heavens sake, Sirius, Dumbledore said no!' A bear-like black dog had appeared at Harry's side as he was clambering over the various trunks cluttering the hall to get to Mrs Weasley. 'Oh honestly...' said Mrs Weasley despairingly. 'Well, on your own head be it!' She wrenched open the front door and stepped out into the weak September sunlight. Harry and the dog followed her.
The door slammed behind them and Mrs Black's screeches were cut off instantly. 'Where's Tonks?' Harry said, looking round as they went down the stone steps of number twelve, which vanished the moment they reached the pavement. 'She's waiting for us just up here,' said Mrs Weasley stiffly, averting her eyes from the lolloping black dog beside Harry. An old woman greeted them on the corner. She had tightly curled grey hair and wore a purple hat shaped like a pork pie. 'Wotcher, Harry,' she said, winking. 'Better hurry up, hadn't we, Molly?' she added, checking her watch. 'I know, I know,' moaned Mrs Weasley, lengthening her stride, 'but Mad-Eye wanted to wait for Sturgis... if only Arthur could have got us cars from the Ministry again... but Fudge won't let him borrow so much as an empty ink bottle these days... how Muggles can stand travelling without magic...'	door slammed behind them and Mrs Black's screeches were cut off instantly. 'Where's Tonks?' Harry said, looking round as they went down the stone steps of number twelve, which vanished the moment they reached the pavement. 'She's waiting for us just up here,' said Mrs Weasley stiffly, averting her eyes from the lolloping black dog beside Harry. An old woman greeted them on the corner. She had tightly curled grey hair and wore a purple hat shaped like a pork pie. 'Wotcher, Harry,' she said, winking. 'Better hurry up, hadn't we, Molly?' she added, checking her watch. 'I know, I know,' moaned Mrs Weasley, lengthening her stride, 'but Mad-Eye wanted to wait for Sturgis... if only Arthur could have got us cars from the Ministry again... but Fudge won't let him borrow so much as an empty ink bottle these days... how Muggles can stand travelling without magic...'
But the great black dog gave a joyful bark and gambolled around them, snapping at pigeons and chasing its own tail. Harry couldn't help laughing. Sirius had been trapped inside for a very long time. Mrs Weasley pursed her lips in an almost Aunt Petunia-ish way. It took them twenty minutes to reach King's Cross on foot and nothing more eventful happened during that time than Sirius scaring a couple of cats for Harry's entertainment. Once inside the station they lingered casually beside the barrier between platforms nine and ten until the coast was clear, then each of them leaned against it in turn and fell easily through on to platform nine and three-quarters, where the Hogwarts Express stood belching sooty steam over a platform packed with departing students and their families. Harry inhaled the familiar smell and felt his spirits soar... he was really going back... 'I hope the others make it in time,' said Mrs Weasley anxiously, staring behind her at the wrought-iron arch spanning the platform, through which	But the great black dog gave a joyful bark and gambolled around them, snapping at pigeons and chasing its own tail. Harry couldn't help laughing. Sirius had been trapped inside for a very long time. Mrs Weasley pursed her lips in an almost Aunt Petunia-ish way. It took them twenty minutes to reach King's Cross on foot and nothing more eventful happened during that time than Sirius scaring a couple of cats for Harry's entertainment. Once inside the station they lingered casually beside the barrier between platforms nine and ten until the coast was clear, then each of them leaned against it in turn and fell easily through on to platform nine and three-quarters, where the Hogwarts Express stood belching sooty steam over a platform packed with departing students and their families. Harry inhaled the familiar smell and felt his spirits soar... he was really going back... 'I hope the others make it in time,' said Mrs Weasley anxiously, staring behind her at the wrought-iron arch spanning the platform, through which
new arrivals would come. 'Nice dog, Harry!' called a tall boy with dreadlocks. Thanks, Lee,' said Harry, grinning, as Sirius wagged his tail frantically. 'Oh good,' said Mrs Weasley, sounding relieved, 'here's Alastor with the luggage, look...' A porter's cap pulled low over his mismatched eyes, Moody came limping through the archway pushing a trolley loaded with their trunks. 'All OK,' he muttered to Mrs Weasley and Tonks, 'don't think we were followed...' Seconds later, Mr Weasley emerged on to the platform with Ron and Hermione. They had almost unloaded Moody's luggage trolley when Fred, George and Ginny turned up with Lupin. 'No trouble?' growled Moody. 'Nothing,' said Lupin. 'I'll still be reporting Sturgis to Dumbledore,' said Moody, 'that's the second time he's not	arrivals would come. 'Nice dog, Harry!' called a tall boy with dreadlocks. Thanks, Lee,' said Harry, grinning, as Sirius wagged his tail frantically. 'Oh good,' said Mrs Weasley, sounding relieved, 'here's Alastor with the luggage, look...' A porter's cap pulled low over his mismatched eyes, Moody came limping through the archway pushing a trolley loaded with their trunks. 'All OK,' he muttered to Mrs Weasley and Tonks, 'don't think we were followed...' Seconds later, Mr Weasley emerged on to the platform with Ron and Hermione. They had almost unloaded Moody's luggage trolley when Fred, George and Ginny turned up with Lupin. 'No trouble?' growled Moody. 'Nothing,' said Lupin. 'I'll still be reporting Sturgis to Dumbledore,' said Moody, 'that's the second time he's not
turned up in a week. Getting as unreliable as Mundungus.' 'Well, look after yourselves,' said Lupin, shaking hands all round. He reached Harry last and gave him a clap on the shoulder. 'You too, Harry. Be careful.' 'Yeah, keep your head down and your eyes peeled,' said Moody, shaking Harry's hand too. 'And don't forget, all of you - careful what you put in writing. If in doubt, don't put it in a letter at all.' 'It's been great meeting all of you,' said Tonks, hugging Hermione and Ginny. 'We'll see you soon, I expect.' A warning whistle sounded; the students still on the platform started hurrying on to the train. 'Quick, quick,' said Mrs Weasley distractedly, hugging them at random and catching Harry twice, 'Write... be good... if you've forgotten anything we'll send it on... on to the train, now, hurry...'	up in a week. Getting as unreliable as Mundungus.' 'Well, look after yourselves,' said Lupin, shaking hands all round. He reached Harry last and gave him a clap on the shoulder. 'You too, Harry. Be careful.' 'Yeah, keep your head down and your eyes peeled,' said Moody, shaking Harry's hand too. 'And don't forget, all of you - careful what you put in writing. If in doubt, don't put it in a letter at all.' 'It's been great meeting all of you,' said Tonks, hugging Hermione and Ginny. 'We'll see you soon, I expect.' A warning whistle sounded; the students still on the platform started hurrying on to the train. 'Quick, quick,' said Mrs Weasley distractedly, hugging them at random and catching Harry twice, 'Write... be good... if you've forgotten anything we'll send it on... on to the train, now, hurry...'