Empty kitchen and back into the sitting room, where Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were still

Tending to George. Mrs. Weasley had staunched his bleeding now, and by the lamplight

Harry saw a clean gaping hole where George's ear had been.

"How is he?"

Mrs. Weasley looked around and said, "I can't make it grow back, not when it's

been removed by Dark Magic. But it could've been so much worse . . . . He's alive."

"Yeah," said Harry. "Thank God."

"Did I hear someone else in the yard?" Ginny asked.

"Hermione and Kingsley," said Harry.

"Thank goodness," Ginny whispered. They looked at each other; Harry wanted to

Hug her, hold on to her; he did not even care much that Mrs. Weasley was there, but

Before he could act on the impulse, there was a great crash from the kitchen.

"I'll prove who I am, Kingsley, after I've seen my son, now back off if you know

what's good for you!"

Harry had never heard Mr. Weasley shout like that before. He burst into the living

Room, his bald patch gleaming with sweat, his spectacles askew, Fred right behind him,

Both pale but uninjured.

"Arthur!" sobbed Mrs. Weasley. "Oh thank goodness!"

"How is he?"

Mr. Weasley dropped to his knees beside George. For the first time since Harry

Had known him, Fred seemed to be lost for words. He gaped over the back of the sofa at

his twin's wound as if he could not believe what he was seeing.

Perhaps roused by the sound of Fred and their father's arrival, George stirred.

"How do you feel, Georgie?" whispered Mrs. Weasley.

George's fingers groped for the side of his head.

"Saintlike," he murmured.

"What's wrong with him?" croaked Fred, looking terrified. "Is his mind affected?"

"Saintlike," repeated George, opening his eyes and looking up at his brother.

"You see. . . I'm holy. Holey, Fred, geddit?"

Mrs. Weasley sobbed harder than ever. Color flooded Fred's pale face.

"Pathetic," he told George. "Pathetic! With the whole wide world of ear-related

humor before you, you go for holey?"

"Ah well," said George, grinning at his tear-soaked mother. "You'll be able to tell

us apart now, anyway, Mum."

He looked around.

"Hi, Harry – you are Harry, right?"

"Yeah, I am," said Harry, moving closer to the sofa.

"Well, at least we got you back okay," said George. "Why aren't Ron and Bill

huddled round my sickbed?"

"They're not back yet, George," said Mrs. Weasley. George's grin faded. Harry

Glanced at Ginny and motioned to her to accompany him back outside. As they walked

Through the kitchen she said in a low voice.

"Ron and Tonks should be back by now. They didn't have a long journey; Auntie

Muriel's not that far from here."

Harry said nothing. He had been trying to keep fear at bay ever since reaching the

Burrow, but now it enveloped him, seeming to crawl over his skin, throbbing in his chest,

Clogging his throat. As they walked down the back steps into the dark yard, Ginny took

His hand.

Kingsley was striding backward and forward, glancing up at the sky every time he

Turned. Harry was reminded of Uncle Vernon pacing the living room a million years ago.

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 663