Ron did not look quite as pleased as Hermione.

“An’ you’re with me, Harry. That all righ’?” said Hagrid, looking a little anxious.

“We’ll be on the bike, brooms an’ thestrals can’t take me weight, see. Not a lot o’ room

on the seat with me on it, though, so you’ll be in the sidecar.”

“That’s great,” said Harry, not altogether truthfully.

“We think the Death Eaters will expect you to be on a broom,” said Moody, who

seemed to guess how Harry was feeling. “Snape’s had plenty of time to tell them

everything about you he’s never mentioned before, so if we do run into any Death Eaters,

we’re betting they’ll choose one of the Potters who looks at home on a broomstick. All

right then,” he went on, tying up the sack with the fake Potters’ clothes in it and leading

the way back to the door, “I make it three minutes until we’re supposed to leave. No

point locking the back door, it won’t keep the Death Eaters out when they come looking.

Come on …”

Harry hurried to gather his rucksack, Firebolt, and Hedwig’s cage and followed

The group to the dark back garden.

On every side broomsticks were leaping into hands; Hermione had already been

Helped up onto a great black thestral by Kingsley, Fleur onto the other by Bill. Hagrid

Was standing ready beside the motorbike, goggles on.

“Is this it? Is this Sirius’s bike?”

“The very same,” said Hagrid, beaming down at Harry. “An’ the last time yeh

was on it, Harry, I could fit yeh in one hand!”

Harry could not help but feel a little humiliated as he got into the sidecar. It

placed him several feet below everybody else: Ron smirked at the sight of him sitting

There like a child in a bumper car. Harry stuffed his rucksack and broomstick down by his

feet and rammed Hedwig’s cage between his knees. He was extremely uncomfortable.

“Arthur’s done a bit o’ tinkerin’,” said Hagrid, quite oblivious to Harry’s

Discomfort. He settled himself astride the motorcycle, which creaked slightly and sank

inches into the ground. “It’s got a few tricks up its sleeves now. Tha’ one was my idea.”

He pointed a thick finger at a purple button near the speedometer.

"Please be careful, Hagrid." said Mr. Weasley, who was standing beside them,

holding his broomstick. "I'm still not sure that was advisable and it's certainly only to be

used in emergencies."

"All right, then." said Moody. "Everyone ready, please. I want us all to leave at

exactly the same time or the whole point of the diversion's lost."

Everybody motioned their heads.

"Hold tight now, Ron," said Tonks, and Harry saw Ron throw a forcing, guilty look at

Lupin before placing his hands on each side of her waist. Hagrid kicked the motorbike

into life: It roared like a dragon, and the sidecar began to vibrate.

“Good luck, everyone,” shouted Moody. “See you all in about an hour at the

Burrow. On the count of three. One … two .. THREE.”

There was a great roar from the motorbike, and Harry felt the sidecar give a nasty

Lurch. He was rising through the air fast, his eyes watering slightly, hair whipped back off

His face. Around him brooms were soaring upward too; the long black tail of a thestral

flicked past. His legs, jammed into the sidecar by Hedwig’s cage and his rucksack, were

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 629