Sadness to think of leaving him behind. Looking down on the grave, he wondered yet

Again how the elf had known where to come to rescue them. His fingers moved

Absentmindedly to the little pouch still strung around his neck, thorough which he could

feel the jagged mirror fragment in which he had been sure he had seen Dumbledore's eye.

Then the sound of a door opening made him look around.

Bellatrix Lestrange was striding across the lawn toward them, accompanied by

Griphook. As she walked, she was tucking the small, beaded bag into the inside pocket of

Another set of the old robes they had taken from Grimmauld Place. Though Harry knew

Perfectly well that it was really Hermione, he could not suppress a shiver of loathing. She

Was taller than he was, her long black hair rippling down her back, her heavily lidded

Eyes disdainful as they rested upon him; but then she spoke, and he heard Hermione

through Bellatrix's low voice.

"She tasted disgusting, worse than Gurdyroots! Okay, Ron, come here so I can do

you . . ."

"right, but remember, I don't like the beard too long"

"Oh, for heaven's sake, this isn't about looking handsome"

"It's not that, it gets in the way! But I liked my nose a bit shorter, try and do it the

way you did last time."

Hermione sighed and set to work, muttering under her breath as she transformed

various aspects of Ron's appearance. He was to be given a completely fake identity, and

They were trusting to the malevolent aura cast by Bellatrix to protect him. Meanwhile

Harry and Griphook were to be concealed under the Invisibility Cloak.

"There," said Hermione, "how does he look, Harry?"

It was just not possible to discern Ron under his disguise, but only, Harry thought

because he knew him so well. Ron's hair was now long and wavy; he had a thick brown

Beard and mustache, no freckles, a short, broad nose, and heavy eyebrows.

"Well, he's not my type, but he'll do," said Harry. "Shall we go, then?"

All three of them glanced back at Shell Cottage, lying dark and silent under the

Fading stars, then turned and began to walk toward the point, just beyond the boundary

Wall, where the Fidelius Chard stopped working and they would be able to Disapparate.

Once past the gate, Griphook spoke.

"I should climb up now, Harry Potter, I think?"

Harry bent down and the goblin clambered onto his back, his hands linked on

front of Harry's throat. He was not heavy, but Harry disliked the feeling of the goblin and

The surprising strength with which he clung on. Hermione pulled the Invisibility Cloak

Out of the beaded bag and threw it over them both.

"Perfect," she said, bending down to check Harry's feet. "I can't see a thing. Let's

go."

Harry turned on the spot, with Griphook on his shoulders, concentrating with all

His might on the Leaky Cauldron, the inn that was the entrance to Diagon Alley. The

Goblin clung even tighter as they moved into the compressing darkness, and seconds later

Harry's feet found pavement and he opened his eyes on Charing Cross Road. Muggles

Bustled past wearing the hangdog expressions of early morning, quite unconscious of the

little inn's existence.

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 716