Chapter 1 The Burrow
I was asleep in Fred’s arms in the car when I hear Harry’s voice “Ron how did you— What the—?” “All right Harry?” Asks George and I nuzzle deeper into Freds chest “whats been going on?” Says Ron “Why haven’t you been answering my letters? I’ve asked you to stay about 12 times and then Dad came home and said youd got an official warning for using magic in front of muggles—“ “It wasn’t me- and how did he know?” “He works for the Ministry” says Ron “You know we’re not supposed to use spells outside school” “you should talk” says Harry staring at the floating car “ oh this doesn’t count” says Ron “we’re only borrowing this. It’s Dad‘s. We didn’t enchant it, but doing magic in front of those muggles you live with—“ “I told you I didn’t— but it’ll take too long to explain now— Look can you tell them at Hogwarts that the Dursleys have locked me up and won’t let me come back and I obviously can’t magic myself out because the Ministry will think thats the second spell I’ve done in three days so—“ “stop gibbering” I say and Ron nods and says “Weve come to take you home with us” “But you can’t magic me out either—“ “we dont need to” says Ron jerking his head toward the front seat where Fred, George and I are “You forget who I’ve got with me” “tie that around the bars” says Fred as I scoot off his lap and he throws Harry the end of a rope “If the Dursleys wake up I’m dead” says Harry as he ties the rope tightly around a bar, Fred revs the car “Dont worry” says Fred “And stand back” Fred pulls the bars off and Ron pulls them into the car and Fred reverses as close to Harry as he can “Get in” Ron says “But all my Hogwarts stuff— my wand— my broomstick—“ “where is it?” “Locked in the cupboard under the stairs and I can’t get out of this room—“ “no problem” says George where he’s sitting next to me “out of the way Harry” Fred pulls me into his seat and climbs over me. Fred and George climb catlike through the window into Harrys room and George takes an ordinary hairpin from his pocket and starts to pick the lock “Hey! Thats my hairpin!” I whisper they ignore me “A lot of wizards think its a waste of time, knowing this sort of muggle trick” says Fred “But we feel they’re skills worth learning even if they are a bit slow” I hear a small click and the door swings open “so—we’ll get your trunk— you grab anything you need from your room and hand it out to Ron Annes sleepy” whispers George “watch out for the bottom stair— it creaks” Harry whispers back as the twins disappear onto the dark landing. Harry dashes around his room collecting his things and passing them out the window to Ron”a bit more” pants Fred who is pulling from inside the car “one good push—“ Harry and George throw their shoulders against the trunk and it slides out of the window into the backseat. “Okay lets go” George whispers. As Harry climbs onto the windowsill when Hedwig screeches and then I hear Uncle Vernon yell “THAT RUDDY OWL!” “I’ve forgotten Hedwig!” Harry runs back across the room he snatches Hedwigs cage and rushes back handing it to Ron he was scrambling back onto the chest of drawers when Uncle Vernon hammered on the unlocked door and it crashes open. For a split second Uncle Vernon stands framed in the doorway then he lets out a bellow like an angry bull and dives at Harry grabbing him by the ankle Ron, Fred, George and I sieze Harrys arms and pull as hard as we can “Petunia!” Roars Uncle Vernon “hes getting away! HE’S GETTING AWAY!” But we give a gigantic tug and Harrys leg slides out of Uncle Vernons grasp— Harry is in the car—He slams the door shut. “Put your foot down Fred!” Yells Ron and the car shoots suddenly towards the moon. Harry rolls his window down “See you next summer!” Yells Harry Ron, Fred, and George roar with laughter and Harry settles back in his seat grinning from ear to ear, “Let Hedwig out” Harry tells Ron “She can fly behind us She hasn’t had a chance to stretch her wings in ages” George hands my hairpin to Ron and Hedwig soars outside. “So—Whats the story Harry?” Asks Ron impatiently “whats been happening?” Harry tells us all about Dobby, the warning he’d given Harry and the fiasco with the violet pudding we were all silent when he finished and I lay my head on Freds shoulder yawning. “Very fishy” says Fred finally “definitely dodgy” Agrees George “so he wouldn’t even tell you who’s supposed to be plotting all this stuff?” “I dont think he could” says Harry “I told you every time he got close to letting something slip he started banging his head against the wall” Fred and George look at each other “what you think he was lying to me?” Asks Harry “Well” says Fred “put it this way— house-elves have got powerful magic of their own but they can’t usually use it without their master’s permission. I reckon old Dobby was sent to stop you coming back to Hogwarts. Someone’s idea of a joke. Can you think of anyone at school with a grudge against you?” “Yes” says Harry and Ron together instantly “Draco Malfoy” Harry explains “He hates me” “Draco Malfoy?” Says George turning around “not Lucius Malfoys son?” “Must be its not a very common name is it?” Says Harry “why?” “I’ve heard Dad talking about him” says George “He was a big supporter of You-Know-Who” “And when You-Know-Who disappeared” says Fred craning around to look at Harry “Lucius Malfoy came back saying hed never meant any of it. Load of dung— Dad reckons he was right in You-Know-Whos inner circle” “I don’t know whether the Malfoys own a house elf…” says Harry “well, whoever owns him will be an old wizarding family and they’ll be rich” I say as Fred kisses my forehead. “Yeah Mums always wishing we had a house-elf to do the ironing” says George “But all we’ve got is a lousy old ghoul in the attic and gnomes all over the garden. House-elfs come with big old manors and castles and places like that you wouldn’t catch one in our house…” I hit George over the head “I’m glad we came to get you anways” says Ron “I was getting really worried when you didn’t answer any of my letters. I thought it was Errols fault at first—“ “whos Errol?” “Our owl. He’s ancient. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d collapsed on a delivery. So then I tried to borrow Hermes—“ “who?” “The owl Mum and Dad bought Percy when he was made prefect” says Fred “But Percy wouldn’t lend him to me” says Ron “Said he needed him” “Percys been acting very oddly this summer” says George frowning “And he has been sending a lot of letters and spending a load of time shut up in his room… I mean theres only so many times you can polish a prefect badge… You’re driving too far west Fred” he adds pointing at the compass on the dashboard. Fred twiddles the steering wheel. “So, does your Dad know you’ve got the car?” Asks Harry “Er, No” says Ron “He had to work tonight. Hopefully we’ll be able to get it back in the garage without Mum noticing we flew it” “What does your Dad do at the Ministry Of Magic anyway?” “He works in the most boring department” says Ron “The Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office” “The what?” “It’s all to do with bewitching things that are muggle made you know, in case they end up back in a Muggle shop or house. Like last year some old Witch died and her tea set was sold to an antique shop. This Muggle woman bought it, took it home, and tried to serve her friends tea in it. It was a nightmare— Dad was working overtime for weeks.” “What happened?” “The teapot went beserk and squirted boiling tea all over the place and one man ended up in the hospital with the sugar tongs clamped to his nose. Dad was going frantic— It’s only him and an old warlock called Perkins in the office— and they had to do memory charms and all sorts of stuff to cover it up—“ “But your Dad— this car—“ Fred laughs and I smile up at him “yeah Dads crazy about everything to do with Muggles; our sheds full of Muggle stuff. He takes it apart, puts spells on it, and puts it back together again. If he raided our house hed have to put himself under arrest. It drives Mum mad” I giggle and yawn “thats the main road” says George peering down through the windshield. “We’ll be there in ten minutes…. Just as well, its getting light….” Fred brings the car lower “we’re a little way outside the village so is Anne.” Says George “Ottery St. Catchpole” “Touchdown!” Says Fred as we hit the ground. Harry looks out the window “It’s not much” says Ron “It’s wonderful” says Harry we get out of the car and I stumble so Fred pulls me into his side “ now we’ll go upstairs really quietly.” Says Fred “ and wait for Mum to call us for breakfast. Then Ron you come bounding downstairs going ‘Mum, look who turned up last night!’ And she’ll be all pleased to see Harry and no one need ever know we flew the car” I giggle at that because I don’t think it’s going to work but I stay quiet “right” says Ron “come on Harry I sleep at the— at the top—“ Rons face has turned a nasty greenish color his eyes fixed on the house we all turn and I gasp and cling to Fred. Mrs. Weasley is marching across the yard “ah” says Fred “oh dear” says George and I wince because Ive never been yelled at before “so” she says I whimper and Fred pulls me closer “morning Mum” says George “Have you any idea how worried I’ve been?” Says Mrs. Weasley in a deadly whisper “sorry Mum but see we had to—“ “beds empty! no note! car gone! out of my mind with worry did you care never as long as I’ve lived you wait until your father gets home. We never had trouble like this from Bill or Charlie or Percy.—“ “Perfect Percy” mutters Fred and I wince again “YOU COULD DO WITH TAKING A LEAF OUT OF PERCYS BOOK!” Yells Mrs. Weasley “and dragging Dear Anne with you! You could have died, you could have been seen, you could’ve lost your father his job!” It seems to go on for hours. Mrs. Weasley has shouted herself hoarse before she turns on Harry and I, “I’m very pleased to see you Harry dear” she says “come in and have some breakfast you too Anne dear” she turns and walks back into the house and we follow “I don’t blame you or Anne dear” she assures us as ahe tips eight or nine sausages on our plates each. “Arthur and I have been worried about you to too. Just last night we were saying we’d come and get you ourselves if you hadn’t written back to Ron by Friday. But really” (she is now adding three eggs to our plates) “flyin an illegal car halfway across the country— anyone could have seen you—“ she flicks her wand casually at the dishes in the sink which magically begins to clean themselves. “It was cloudy Mum!” Says Fred and I giggle as I eat “You keep your mouth closed while your eating!” Mrs. Weasley snaps “They were starving him Mum!” Says George “And you!” says Mrs. Weasley at this moment a small redheaded figure in a long nightdress who appears in the kitchen, gives a small squeal and runs out again “Ginny” I say “my sister. Shes been talking about you all summer” says Ron “yeah she’ll be wanting your autograph Harry” Fred says with a grin but catches sight of his mothers eye and bends his face over his plate without another word nothing else is said until all five of our plates were clean. “Blimey, I’m tired” says Fred setting down his fork and knife at last “I think I’ll go to bed and—“ “you will not” snaps Mrs. Weasley “It’s your own fault you’ve been up all night. You’re going to de-gnome the garden for me; they’re getting completely out of hand again-“ “oh Mum” “and you two” she says glaring at Ron and George “Anne you and Harry can go up to bed dears” she adds “you didn’t ask them to fly that wretched car” I feel wide awake and I can tell Harry feels that way too when he says “I’ll help Ron. I’ve never seen a de-gnoming” I nod along even though I’ve seen it before “I’ll watch the boys if you don’t mind Mrs. Weasley” she nods at me “thats very sweet of you dear but it’s dull work.” Says Mrs. Weasley to Harry “Now lets see what Lockharts got to say on the subject.” And she pulls a heavy book from the stack on the mantelpiece George groans. “Mum we know how to de-gnome a garden—“ I look at the cover if Mrs. Weasleys book and snicker written across it in fancy gold letters are the words Gilderoy Lockharts Guide to Household Pests. There is a big photograph of a very good-looking wizard with wavy blonde hair and bright blue eyes. As always in the Wizarding world, the photograph was moving; rhe wizard, Gilderoy Lockhart, keeps winking cheekily up at us all. Mrs. Weasley beams down at him. “Oh he is marvelous” she says “He knows his household pests all right, it’s a wonderful book…” “Mum fancies him” says Fred in a very audible whisper and I giggle “who doesn’t?” I ask and he gasps “my own girlfriend?!” He looks wounded and I giggle “no Freddie I only fancy you silly” I say kissing his nose “don’t be so ridiculous Fred” says Mrs. Weasley her cheeks rather pink “All right, if you think you know better than Lockhart you can go and get on with it, and woe betide you if theres a single gnome in that garden when I come out to inspect it” yawning and grumbling the Weasleys slouch outside with Harry and I behind them me giggling happily as I jump on Fred’s back he grunts but carries me and I giggle happily. “Muggles have garden gnomes too you know” Harry tells Ron as we walk across the lawn Fred puts me down “yeah I’ve seen those things they think are gnomes” says Ron bent double with his head in a peony bush “like fat little Santa Clauses with fishing rods….” There is a violent scuffling noise the peony bush shudders and Ron straightens up “This is a gnome” he says grimly “Gerroff me! Gerroff me!” Squeals the gnome. It is certainly nothing like Santa Claus. It is small and leathery looking, with a large, knobby, bald head exactly like a potato. Ron holds it at arms length as it kicks out at him with its horny little feet; he grasps it around the ankles and turns it upside down. “This is what you have to do” he says. He raises the gnome above his head (“Gerroff me!”) and starts to swing it in great circles like a lasso. Seeing the shocked look on Harrys face I giggle and Ron adds “it doesn’t hurt them— you’ve just got to make them really dizzy so they can’t find their way back to the gnome holes.” He lets go of the gnomes ankles: it flies twenty feet into the air and lands with a thud in the field over the hedge. “Pitiful” says Fred “I bet I can get mine beyond that stump” “Wow Harry— that must’ve been fifty feet….” The air is soon thick with flying gnomes “See their not too bright” says George seizing five or six gnomes at once “The moment they know the de-gnomings going on they storm up to have a look. You’d think they’d have learned by now to just stay put.” Soon the crowd of gnomes in the field starts walking away in a straggling line, their little shoulders hunched. “They’ll be back” says Ron as we watch the gnomes disappear into the hedge on the other side of the field. “They love it here…. Dads too soft with them, he thinks they’re funny….” Just now the front door slams. “He’s back!” Says George “Dads home!” Mr. Weasley is slumped in a kitchen chair with his glasses off and his eyes closed. He is a thin man, going bald, but the little hair he has is as red as any of his children’s. He is wearing long green robes which were dusty and travel worn. “What a night” he grumbles groping for the teapot as we all sit down around him. “Nine raids. Nine! And old Mundungus Fletcher tried to put a hex on me when I had my back turned...." Mr. Weasley takes a long gulp of tea and sighs. "Find anything Dad?" asks Fred eagerly "All I got were a few shrinking door keys and a biting kettle." yawns Mr. Weasley "There was some pretty nasty stuff that wasn't my department though. Mortlake was taken away for questioning about some extremely odd ferrets but thats the Committee on Experimental Charms thank goodness..." "Why would anyone bother making door keys shrink?" says George "Just Muggle baiting" sighs Mr. Weasley "Sell them a key that keeps shrinking to nothing so they can never find it when they need it…. Of course, it’s very hard to convict anyone because no Muggle would admit their keys keep shrinking— they'll insist they just keep losing it. Bless them, they'll go to any lengths to ignore magic, even if its staring them in the face.... But the things our lot have taken to enchanting, you wouldn't believe-" "LIKE CARS FOR INSTANCE?" Mrs. Weasley has just appeared holding a long poker like a sword. Mr. Weasleys eyes jerk open. He stares guiltily at his wife "c-cars, Molly dear?" "yes Arthur cars" says Mrs. Weasley her eyes flashing "imagine a wizard buying a rusty old car and telling his wife all he wanted to do with it was take it apart to see how it worked, while really he was enchanting it to make it fly" Mr. Weasley blinks "Well dear, I think you'll find that he would be quite within the law to do that even if-er-he maybe would have done better to um tell his wife the truth.... Theres a loophole in the law you'll find.... As long as he wasn't intending to fly the car the fact that the car could fly wouldn't-" "Arthur Weasley you made sure there was a loophole when you wrote that law!" shouts Mrs. Weasley "Just so you could carry on tinkering with all that Muggle rubbish in your shed! And for your information Harry arrived this morning in the car you weren't intending to fly!" "Harry?" says Mr. Weasley blankly and I giggle "Harry who?" He looks around and sees Harry and jumps "Good Lord is it Harry Potter? Very pleased to meet you Ron and Anne have told us so much about-" "your sons flew that car to Harrys house and back last night dragging poor Anne with them!" shouts Mrs. Weasley “What have you got to say about that, eh?” “Did you really?” Says Mr. Weasley eagerly "Did it go alright? I-I mean" he falters as soarks fly from Mrs. Weaskeys eyes “that— that was very wrong boys very wrong indeed….”
