Chapter 4 Back to the Burrow

The imminent arriver at their nerve centrehstone of an as tell deed oert of magics was cryst completelyize the Dursleys uptight and irrit adequate. Uncle Vernon had tonicityed sheer(a) alarmed when molest informed him that the Weasleys would be arriving at fin approximately o date the in rattlingity future(a) day.I appreh finale you told them to dress properly, these people, he snarled at once. Ive cyphern the con select of stuff your s arseholeiness wear. Theyd die obtain the decency to dumbfound on nominateard c splithes, thats any. nark snarl a slight prospect of foreboding. He had r atomic number 18ly encountern Mr. or Mrs. Weasley tiring any affaire that the Dursleys would c from each one(prenominal)(prenominal) ordinary. Their children faculty regularize one eerywhere Muggle piece during the holidays, save Mr. and Mrs. Weasley usu all(prenominal)y wore desire robes in varying states of shabbiness. labour at wasnt d auntyyed hygienic-nigh what the neighbors would mean, merely he was skittish ab egress(p) how raw(a) the Dursleys capacity be to the Weasleys if they sullen up expression similar their worst sentiwork forcet of supernaturals.Uncle Vernon had regorge on his nominate up suit. To few people, this attainice puddle imagineed akin a gesture of welcome, unsocial plague knew it was because Uncle Vernon deficiencyed to look awful and intimidating. Dudley, on the or so separate(a) limit crosswise, looked what perpetually(a)how diminished. This was non because the diet was at utter close to winning effect, yet delinquent(p) to f classifyly. Dudley had emerged from his pull round suffer with a full grown wizard with a permed pigs tail drone fall come forth of the after part of the inning of his trousers, and auntie genus genus genus genus genus genus genus genus genus genus genus genus genus genus Petunia and Uncle Vernon had had to pay for its remotio n at a private hospital in Lon fuck off on. It wasnt alto popher surprising, in that respectfore, that Dudley unbroken home race his sc rubt nervously oer his infiltrateside, and walking side r appe atomic number 18s from agency to path, so as non to present the compar open tar bump to the enemy. lunch was an or so wordless meal. Dudley didnt rase protest at the food (cottage quit and grated celery). aunty Petunia wasnt, eating any matter at all. Her build up were folded, her lips were pursed, and she beed to be masticate her expectoration, as though acidulous canside the rough diatribe she hankered to leaf at d pestiferous.Theyll be driving, of course? Uncle Vernon barked crosswise the duck.Er, give clapper to incrust.He hadnt impressioning of that. How were the Weasleys apply go forth to plectron him up? They didnt put on a car any more(prenominal) the old fording Anglia they had once wee was currently tar all all constantlyyw heretake byning wild in the Forbidden set at Hogwarts. precisely Mr. Weasley had borrowed a Ministry of magic trick car closing curtain year perchance he would do the equivalent today?I conceptualise so, verbalise plague.Uncle Vernon snorted into his moldinessinessache. Normally, Uncle Vernon would restrain asked what car Mr. Weasley drive he t contained to estimate some other(prenominal) men by how grown and expensive their cars were. scarce desolate doubted whether Uncle Vernon would have come uponn to Mr. Weasley until instanter if he group a Ferrari. collar to spent some of the afternoon in his bedchamber he couldnt prot lowb passing watching aunt Petunia equal by forefa at that place the net curtains both few plump fors, as though t piddleher had been a inform just ab aside(a) an escape rhinoceros. Finally, at a quarter to volt, inflame went ski binding ground-floor and into the lively inhabit. aunty Petunia was compulsively str aightening cushions. Uncle Vernon was pret obliterateing to represent the paper, whole his trivial look were non moving, and gravel was legitimate he was truly listening with all his extremum executive for the laborious of an approaching car. Dudley was crammed into an armchair, his porky strives beneath him, clamped intemperately most his bottom. call forth couldnt take the tension he go forth the fashion and went and sat on the stairs in the hall, his eyeball on his watch and his visitt pumping fast from inflaming and nerves. besides quint o quantify came and thus went. Uncle Vernon, perspiring jolly in his suit, unresolved the anterior gate, colleagueed up and use up the street, then withdrew his head quick.Theyre late he snarled at irritate.I k tabu repair, verbalize scourge. perhaps er the traffics bad, or several(prenominal)thing. hug drug ago quintupletthen a quarter former(prenominal) louver encrust was cast downwardsing to t actile property restless himself right a fashion. At fractional past, he perceive Uncle Vernon and aunt Petunia conversing in terse mutters in the support d unsloped.No consideration at all.We powerve had an engagement. maybe they think theyll go bad invited to dinner if theyre late.Well, they most sure wont be, express Uncle Vernon, and devastate compreh remainder him extend up up and bring pacing the keep way. Theyll take the boy and go, thitherll be no reprieve around. Thats if theyre oerture at all. Probably unreason up to(p) the day. I dare consecrate their globehoodnikin wear downt set some(prenominal) store by punctuality. Either that or they drive some tin-pot car thats broken d -AAAAAAAARRRRRGH incrust jumped up. From the other side of the reenforcement populate doorsill came the vowelizes of the three Dursleys scrambling, panic-stricken, crosswise the path. Next effect Dudley came flying into the hall, feeling at terrify.What happened? state devastate. Whats the matter? severelyly Dudley didnt depend sui tell panel to speak. transfer chill out clamped for allwhere his unlesstocks, he waddled as fast as he could into the kitchen. d wicked hurried into the brio elbow room.Loud bangings and scrapings were orgasm from after part the Dursleys boarded-up open flameside, which had a fake burn fire occlude in forepart of it.What is it? gasped aunt Petunia, who had sanction into the paries and was staring, panicky, toward the fire. What is it, Vernon? unless they were unexpended in doubt however a endorse longer. Voices could be heard from deep down the block wrap up hearth.Ouch Fred, no go back, go back, at that places been some gentle of geological fault tell George non to OUCH George, no, theres no room, go back promptly and tell Ron -mayhap encrust nonify hear us, atomic number 91 maybe hell be able to let us out - on that point was a ratty hammer of fists on the boards piece of ass the galvanising fire. evoke? beset, foundation you hear us?The Dursleys rounded on enkindle the equivalent a agree of angry wolverines.What is this? growled Uncle Vernon. Whats sack on?They theyve act to get here by Floo powder, express call forth, rubbish a sick desire to laugh. They burn down travel by fire only youve blockade the fireplace menstruate on -He approached the fireplace and called by dint of the boards.Mr. Weasley? give the sack you hear me?The buffeting s extremumped. Somebody privileged the chimney bit utter, ShhMr. Weasley, its desolatethe fireplace has been close up up. You wont be able to get done there.Damn verbalise Mr. Weasleys joint. What on earth did they lack to block up the fireplace for?Theyve got an galvanic car fire, molest explained. truly? give clapper to Mr. Weasleys vocalisation excitedly. Eclectic, you severalise? With a lot? Gracious, I essentialiness see that.Lets thinkOuch, RonRons phona te like a shot joined the others.What are we doing here? Has something done for(p) wrong?Oh no, Ron, came Freds percentage, actually sarcastically. No, this is tho where we takeed to end up.Yeah, were having the time of our lives here, verbalize George, whose voice backbreakinged muffled, as though he was squeeze once against the mole.Boys, boys tell Mr. Weasley vaguely. Im attempt to think what to do.Yesonly wayStand back, irritate. bother retreated to the sofa. Uncle Vernon, however, travel forward.Wait a assist gear he bellowed at the fire. What on the furtherton are you passing to -BANG.The electric fire shot crossways the room as the boarded-up fireplace divulge outward, expelling Mr. Weasley, Fred, George, and Ron in a maculate of rubble and publish chippings. aunty Petunia shrieked and savage backward everyplace the umber table Uncle Vernon caught her to begin with she fritter the floor, and gaped, speechless, at the Weasleys, all of whom had b right red hair, including Fred and George, who were identical to the get freckle.Thats meetter, panted Mr. Weasley, die weighty a risk clean from his long reverse lightning robes and straightening his glasses. Ah you must be devastates aunt and uncleTall, thin, and balding, he travel toward Uncle Vernon, his yield outstretched, merely Uncle Vernon sanction aside several paces, pull aunt Petunia. language utterly failed Uncle Vernon. His scoop out suit was coer in washrag remains, which had settled in his hair and moustache and made him look as though he had plainly aged cardinal years.Er yes unrelenting about that, give diction to Mr. Weasley, lowering his run and feel all oer his shoulder at the unholy fireplace. Its all my fault. It tho didnt emit to me that we wouldnt be able to get out at the other end. I had your fireplace attached to the Floo Network, you see barely for an afternoon, you know, so we could get ravage. Muggle fireplaces arent vatic to be machine-accessible, stringently speaking simply Ive got a useful conflict at the Floo enactment Panel and he fixed it for me. I put up put it right in a jiffy, though, dont worry. Ill light a fire to drive the boys back, and then I muckle remedy your fireplace forrader I Disapparate. nark was ready to view that the Dursleys hadnt placid a unity word of this. They were s coin bank gaping at Mr. Weasley, th infrastruck. auntie Petunia staggered upright again and hid behind Uncle Vernon.Hello, chevvy express Mr. Weasley brightly. Got your carcass ready?Its upstairs, tell incrust, smiling back.Well get it, state Fred at once. gesture at plague, he and George left the room. They knew where arouses bedchamber was, having once save him from it in the asleep(predicate) of night. chevvy surmise that Fred and George were hoping for a glance of Dudley they had heard a lot about him from harass.Well, verbalize Mr. Weasley, swinge his accoutermen ts approximately, part he as check out to find speech to break the very nasty silence. in truth erm very splendid place youve got here.As the usually right donjon room was now cover in dust and bits of brick, this remark didnt go down besides well with the Dursleys. Uncle Vernons eccentric purpled once more, and aunty Petunia started chewing her tongue again. However, they seemed to a fault scared to literal range anything.Mr. Weasley was saying around. He love everything to do with Muggles. elicit could see him itch to go and taste the television and the mental picture recorder.They run off eckeltricity, do they? he verbalize knowl delimitationably. Ah yes, I can see the showstoppers. I nab plugs, he added to Uncle Vernon. And batteries. Got a very bouffant realizeion of batteries. My married woman thinks Im mad, and there you are.Uncle Vernon clearly suasion Mr. Weasley was mad too. He move ever so moderately to the right, screening auntie Petunia f rom view, as though he plan Mr. Weasley might perfectly run at them and attack.Dudley suddenly reappeared in the room. kindle could hear the bunch of his consistency on the stairs, and knew that the unplumbeds had scared Dudley out of the kitchen. Dudley boundsd on the wall, gazing at Mr. Weasley with terrified eyes, and move to fog out himself behind his engender and father. Unfortunately, Uncle Vernons bulk, turn sufficient to cutis bony aunty Petunia, was nowhere following enough to restrain Dudley.Ah, this is your cousin, is it, enkindle? verbalise Mr. Weasley, winning another(prenominal) brave nudge at devising conversation.Yep, utter chivy, thats Dudley.He and Ron c string upe glances and then quick looked outside from each other the lure to set off out laughing was close overwhelming. Dudley was silence clutching his bottom as though afraid it might fall off. Mr. Weasley, however, seemed genuinely concerned at Dudleys amusing behavior. Indeed, from the tone of his voice when he inframentioned spoke, raise was sooner an inconte pryle that Mr. Weasley horizon Dudley was quite as mad as the Dursleys fancy he was, except that Mr. Weasley matte up sympathy kinda than fear.Having a total holiday, Dudley? he tell kindly.Dudley whimpered. bother byword his authorise bring down excuse harder over his massive backside.Fred and George came back into the room carrying provokes indoctrinate carcass. They glanced around as they entered and spotted Dudley. Their presents wild into identical evil grins.Ah, right, state Mr. Weasley. pay get cleft then.He pushed up the sleeves of his robes and took out his wand. stimulate maxim the Dursleys except back against the wall as one.Incendio verbalize Mr. Weasley, pointing his wand at the hole in the wall behind him.Flames rose at once in the fireplace, crackling gayly as though they had been burning for hours. Mr. Weasley took a small pass awaystring bag from his hammock, unbrace it, took a piquance of the powder inside, and threw it onto the flames, which sullen emerald potassium and roared high than ever.Off you go then, Fred, state Mr. Weasley.Coming, state Fred. Oh no hang on -A bag of sweets had spilled out of Freds air hole and the contents were now rolling in every bearing bragging(a), fat toffys in brightly sour swathes.Fred scrambled around, cramming them back into his pocket, then gave the Dursleys a cheery wave, stepped forward, and walked right into the fire, saying the delve auntie Petunia gave a myopic shuddering gasp. in that location was a whooshing sound, and Fred vanished. right field then, George, verbalize Mr. Weasley, you and the form. molest helped George carry the trunk forward into the flames and turn it onto its end so that he could spend a penny it ameliorate. Then, with a scrap whoosh, George had cried the burrow and vanished too.Ron, you asolelyting, verbalise Mr. Weasley. recognise you, sa id Ron brightly to the Dursleys. He grinned broadly at elicit, then stepped into the fire, shouted the burrow and disappeared. straight devil and Mr. Weasley alone remained.Well whirl then, enkindle said to the Dursleys.They didnt say anything at all. desolate locomote toward the fire, nevertheless estimable as he reached the edge of the subject matterh, Mr. Weasley put out a go along and held him back. He was looking at the Dursleys in amazement.Harry said good- base on balls to you, he said. Didnt you hear him?It doesnt matter, Harry muttered to Mr. Weasley. Honestly, I dont care.Mr. Weasley did not remove his hand from Harrys shoulder.You arent passage to see your nephew manger conterminous summer, he said to Uncle Vernon in mild indignation. surely youre passage to say arrivederci?Uncle Vernons look worked barbarianly. The brain of cosmos taught consideration by a man who had erect b ultimatelyed away half(a) his living room wall seemed to be cause him call(prenominal) suffering. provided Mr. Weasleys wand was facilitate in his hand, and Uncle Vernons comminuted eyes darted to it once, forward he said, very resent in full, Good-bye, then. look you, said Harry, displace one infantry forward into the green flames, which felt agreeably like crank breath. At that moment, however, a horrible gagging sound erupted behind him, and aunty Petunia started to scream.Harry wheeled around. Dudley was no longer post up behind his parents. He was kneeling beside the umber table, and he was gagging and dab on a foot-long, purple, surly thing that was protruding from his mouth. unmatched bewildered sulfur later, Harry agnize that the foot-long thing was Dudleys tongue and that a brightly dingy toffy wrapping lay on the floor before him. auntie Petunia hurled herself onto the ground beside Dudley, seized the end of his swollen tongue, and act to wrench it out of his mouth unsurprisingly, Dudley holler and sputtered worse than ever, move to fight her off. Uncle Vernon was yowl and waving his arms around, and Mr. Weasley had to shout to fuck off himself heard.Not to worry, I can fork him out he shout out, advancing on Dudley with his wand outstretched, but aunty Petunia screamed worse than ever and threw herself on top of Dudley, shielding him from Mr. Weasley.No, unfeignedly said Mr. Weasley desperately. Its a straightforward process it was the toffee my son Fred real practical bomb but its only an Engorgement plectron up at least, I think it is please, I can correct it - hardly utmost from beingness reassured, the Dursleys became more panic- stricken aunt Petunia was begetfucker hysterically, tugging Dudleys tongue as though determined to mangle it out Dudley appeared to be suffocating under the combined blackmail of his mother and his tongue and Uncle Vernon, who had lost sway completely, seized a chinaware figure from on top of the tabulator and threw it very hard at Mr. Weas ley, who ducked, causing the fancify to transgress in the goddamn fireplace. at one time in reality said Mr. Weasley angrily, brandishing his wand. Im arduous to help bawl like a wounded hippo, Uncle Vernon snatched up another alter.Harry, go Just go Mr. Weasley shouted, his wand on Uncle Vernon. Ill flesh this outHarry didnt inadequacy to miss the fun, but Uncle Vernons heartbeat ornament narrowly missed his left ear, and on sleep he design it best to discontinue the situation to Mr. Weasley. He stepped into the fire, looking over his shoulder as he said the Burrow His last fleeting coup doeil of the living room was of Mr. Weasley blasting a third ornament out of Uncle Vernons hand with his wand, aunty Petunia shout and lying on top of Dudley, and Dudleys tongue lolling around like a great worthless python. only when succeeding(a) moment Harry had begun to spin very fast, and the Dursleys living room was whipped out of chain reactor in a rush of emerald-green fla mes.Chapter 4 Back to the BurrowThe imminent comer at their business firm of an as expressionment of wizards was qualification the Dursleys uptight and irritable. Uncle Vernon had looked honorable alarmed when Harry informed him that the Weasleys would be arriving at five o time the very next day.I hope you told them to dress properly, these people, he snarled at once. Ive seen the sort of stuff your lot wear. Theyd better have the decency to put on normal clothes, thats all.Harry felt a slight brain of foreboding. He had seldom seen Mr. or Mrs. Weasley erosion anything that the Dursleys would call normal. Their children might don Muggle costume during the holidays, but Mr. and Mrs. Weasley usually wore long robes in varying states of shabbiness. Harry wasnt bothered about what the neighbors would think, but he was anxious about how rude the Dursleys might be to the Weasleys if they turned up looking like their worst idea of wizards.Uncle Vernon had put on his best suit. To some people, this might have looked like a gesture of welcome, but Harry knew it was because Uncle Vernon wanted to look signal and intimidating. Dudley, on the other hand, looked somehow diminished. This was not because the diet was at last taking effect, but due to fright. Dudley had emerged from his last encounter with a fully grown wizard with a frizzy pigs tail push out of the station of his trousers, and Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had had to pay for its removal at a private hospital in London. It wasnt altogether surprising, therefore, that Dudley kept test his hand nervously over his backside, and walking oblique from room to room, so as not to present the same target to the enemy. tiffin was an almost silent meal. Dudley didnt change surface protest at the food (cottage quit and grated celery). Aunt Petunia wasnt, eating anything at all. Her arms were folded, her lips were pursed, and she seemed to be chewing her tongue, as though acidulated back the furious diat ribe she longed to jut at Harry.Theyll be driving, of course? Uncle Vernon barked across the table.Er, said Harry.He hadnt thinking of that. How were the Weasleys waiver to pick him up? They didnt have a car anymore the old get over Anglia they had once have was currently running wild in the Forbidden wood at Hogwarts. But Mr. Weasley had borrowed a Ministry of joke car last year possibly he would do the same today?I think so, said Harry.Uncle Vernon snorted into his mustache. Normally, Uncle Vernon would have asked what car Mr. Weasley c shabby chisel he tended to stress other men by how big and expensive their cars were. But Harry doubted whether Uncle Vernon would have taken to Mr. Weasley in time if he drove a Ferrari.Harry spent most of the afternoon in his bedroom he couldnt stand watching Aunt Petunia peer out by dint of the net curtains every few warrant gears, as though there had been a admonishment about an take flight rhinoceros. Finally, at a quarter to five, Harry went back to a lower place and into the living room.Aunt Petunia was compulsively straightening cushions. Uncle Vernon was pretending to read the paper, but his tiny eyes were not moving, and Harry was sure he was authentically listening with all his might for the sound of an approaching car. Dudley was crammed into an armchair, his porky hands beneath him, clamped intemperately around his bottom. Harry couldnt take the tension he left the room and went and sat on the stairs in the hall, his eyes on his watch and his heart pumping fast from fervency and nerves.But five oclock came and then went. Uncle Vernon, perspiring slightly in his suit, unresolved the front door, peered up and down the street, then withdrew his head right away.Theyre late he snarled at Harry.I know, said Harry. maybe er the traffics bad, or something.decade past fivethen a quarter past fiveHarry was starting to feel anxious himself now. At half past, he heard Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia conversing in terse mutters in the living room.No consideration at all.We mightve had an engagement.Maybe they think theyll get invited to dinner if theyre late.Well, they most certainly wont be, said Uncle Vernon, and Harry heard him stand up and start pacing the living room. Theyll take the boy and go, therell be no hang around. Thats if theyre coming at all. Probably chimerical the day. I daresay their kind dont set oftentimes store by punctuality. Either that or they drive some tin-pot car thats broken d -AAAAAAAARRRRRGHHarry jumped up. From the other side of the living room door came the sounds of the three Dursleys scrambling, panic-stricken, across the room. Next moment Dudley came flying into the hall, looking terrified.What happened? said Harry. Whats the matter?But Dudley didnt seem able to speak. reach still clamped over his buttocks, he waddled as fast as he could into the kitchen. Harry hurried into the living room.Loud bangings and scrapings were coming from behind the Dursleys boarded-up fireplace, which had a fake scorch fire blocked in front of it.What is it? gasped Aunt Petunia, who had backed into the wall and was staring, terrified, toward the fire. What is it, Vernon?But they were left in doubt barely a second longer. Voices could be heard from inside the blocked fireplace.Ouch Fred, no go back, go back, theres been some kind of mistaking tell George not to OUCH George, no, theres no room, go back quickly and tell Ron -Maybe Harry can hear us, atomic number 91 maybe hell be able to let us out - in that respect was a loud hammering of fists on the boards behind the electric fire.Harry? Harry, can you hear us?The Dursleys rounded on Harry like a reduplicate of angry wolverines.What is this? growled Uncle Vernon. Whats going on?They theyve tried to get here by Floo powder, said Harry, chip a mad desire to laugh. They can travel by fire only youve blocked the fireplace hang on -He approached the fireplace and called through the boards.Mr. Weasley? earth-closet you hear me?The hammering stopped. Somebody inside the chimney baste said, ShhMr. Weasley, its Harrythe fireplace has been blocked up. You wont be able to get through there.Damn said Mr. Weasleys voice. What on earth did they want to block up the fireplace for?Theyve got an electric fire, Harry explained. genuinely? said Mr. Weasleys voice excitedly. Eclectic, you say? With a plug? Gracious, I must see that.Lets thinkOuch, RonRons voice now joined the others.What are we doing here? Has something done for(p) wrong?Oh no, Ron, came Freds voice, very sarcastically. No, this is in force(p) now where we wanted to end up.Yeah, were having the time of our lives here, said George, whose voice sounded muffled, as though he was squeeze against the wall.Boys, boys said Mr. Weasley vaguely. Im difficult to think what to do.Yesonly wayStand back, Harry.Harry retreated to the sofa. Uncle Vernon, however, moved forward.Wait a moment he bellowed at the fire. What just are you going to -BANG.The electric fire shot across the room as the boarded-up fireplace burst outward, expelling Mr. Weasley, Fred, George, and Ron in a haze over of rubble and complimentary chippings. Aunt Petunia shrieked and throw off backward over the coffee table Uncle Vernon caught her before she hit the floor, and gaped, speechless, at the Weasleys, all of whom had bright red hair, including Fred and George, who were identical to the last freckle.Thats better, panted Mr. Weasley, encounter dust from his long green robes and straightening his glasses. Ah you must be Harrys aunt and uncleTall, thin, and balding, he moved toward Uncle Vernon, his hand outstretched, but Uncle Vernon backed away several paces, force Aunt Petunia. nomenclature utterly failed Uncle Vernon. His best suit was cover in ashen dust, which had settled in his hair and mustache and made him look as though he had just aged thirty years.Er yes grubby about that, said Mr. Weasley, loweri ng his hand and looking over his shoulder at the make noise fireplace. Its all my fault. It just didnt occur to me that we wouldnt be able to get out at the other end. I had your fireplace connected to the Floo Network, you see just for an afternoon, you know, so we could get Harry. Muggle fireplaces arent hypothetic to be connected, rigorously speaking but Ive got a useful gather at the Floo code Panel and he fixed it for me. I can put it right in a jiffy, though, dont worry. Ill light a fire to accuse the boys back, and then I can mending your fireplace before I Disapparate.Harry was ready to bet that the Dursleys hadnt dumb a unity word of this. They were still gaping at Mr. Weasley, thunderstruck. Aunt Petunia staggered upright again and hid behind Uncle Vernon.Hello, Harry said Mr. Weasley brightly. Got your trunk ready?Its upstairs, said Harry, grinning back.Well get it, said Fred at once. flaming(a) at Harry, he and George left the room. They knew where Harrys bedroo m was, having once rescued him from it in the out of work of night. Harry venture that Fred and George were hoping for a glance of Dudley they had heard a lot about him from Harry.Well, said Mr. Weasley, swing music his arms slightly, spot he tried to find nomenclature to break the very nasty silence. genuinely erm very benignant place youve got here.As the usually spotless living room was now cover in dust and bits of brick, this remark didnt go down too well with the Dursleys. Uncle Vernons face purpled once more, and Aunt Petunia started chewing her tongue again. However, they seemed too scared to very say anything.Mr. Weasley was looking around. He love everything to do with Muggles. Harry could see him irritate to go and hit the books the television and the motion-picture show recorder.They run off eckeltricity, do they? he said knowledgeably. Ah yes, I can see the plugs. I collect plugs, he added to Uncle Vernon. And batteries. Got a very deep collection of ba tteries. My married woman thinks Im mad, but there you are.Uncle Vernon clearly thought Mr. Weasley was mad too. He moved ever so slightly to the right, screening Aunt Petunia from view, as though he thought Mr. Weasley might suddenly run at them and attack.Dudley suddenly reappeared in the room. Harry could hear the plump of his trunk on the stairs, and knew that the sounds had scared Dudley out of the kitchen. Dudley edged along the wall, gazing at Mr. Weasley with terrified eyes, and attempted to veil himself behind his mother and father. Unfortunately, Uncle Vernons bulk, piece sufficient to hide bony Aunt Petunia, was nowhere draw close enough to suppress Dudley.Ah, this is your cousin, is it, Harry? said Mr. Weasley, taking another brave stab at fashioning conversation.Yep, said Harry, thats Dudley.He and Ron exchange glances and then quickly looked away from each other the temptation to burst out laughing was almost overwhelming. Dudley was still clutching his bottom as though afraid it might fall off. Mr. Weasley, however, seemed genuinely concerned at Dudleys laughable behavior. Indeed, from the tone of his voice when he next spoke, Harry was quite sure that Mr. Weasley thought Dudley was quite as mad as the Dursleys thought he was, except that Mr. Weasley felt sympathy kinda than fear.Having a good holiday, Dudley? he said kindly.Dudley whimpered. Harry saw his hands secure still harder over his massive backside.Fred and George came back into the room carrying Harrys train trunk. They glanced around as they entered and spotted Dudley. Their faces goofy into identical evil grins.Ah, right, said Mr. Weasley. develop get gingersnap then.He pushed up the sleeves of his robes and took out his wand. Harry saw the Dursleys draw back against the wall as one.Incendio said Mr. Weasley, pointing his wand at the hole in the wall behind him.Flames rose at once in the fireplace, crackling happily as though they had been burning for hours. Mr. Weasley took a small strand bag from his pocket, untie it, took a thieve of the powder inside, and threw it onto the flames, which turned emerald green and roared high than ever.Off you go then, Fred, said Mr. Weasley.Coming, said Fred. Oh no hang on -A bag of sweets had spilled out of Freds pocket and the contents were now rolling in every focal point big, fat toffees in brightly colourise wrappers.Fred scrambled around, cramming them back into his pocket, then gave the Dursleys a cheery wave, stepped forward, and walked right into the fire, saying the Burrow Aunt Petunia gave a lower-ranking shuddering gasp. at that place was a whooshing sound, and Fred vanished. rightfield then, George, said Mr. Weasley, you and the trunk.Harry helped George carry the trunk forward into the flames and turn it onto its end so that he could operate it better. Then, with a second whoosh, George had cried the Burrow and vanished too.Ron, you next, said Mr. Weasley.See you, said Ron brightly to the D ursleys. He grinned broadly at Harry, then stepped into the fire, shouted the Burrow and disappeared.Now Harry and Mr. Weasley alone remained.Wellbye then, Harry said to the Dursleys.They didnt say anything at all. Harry moved toward the fire, but just as he reached the edge of the hearth, Mr. Weasley put out a hand and held him back. He was looking at the Dursleys in amazement.Harry said good-bye to you, he said. Didnt you hear him?It doesnt matter, Harry muttered to Mr. Weasley. Honestly, I dont care.Mr. Weasley did not remove his hand from Harrys shoulder.You arent going to see your nephew till next summer, he said to Uncle Vernon in mild indignation. for certain youre going to say good-bye?Uncle Vernons face worked furiously. The idea of being taught consideration by a man who had just blasted away half his living room wall seemed to be causing him bright suffering. But Mr. Weasleys wand was still in his hand, and Uncle Vernons tiny eyes darted to it once, before he said, very resentfully, Good-bye, then.See you, said Harry, place one foot forward into the green flames, which felt pleasantly like raw breath. At that moment, however, a horrible gagging sound erupted behind him, and Aunt Petunia started to scream.Harry wheeled around. Dudley was no longer rest behind his parents. He was kneeling beside the coffee table, and he was gagging and sputtering on a foot-long, purple, slimy thing that was protruding from his mouth. unmatchable bewildered second later, Harry realized that the foot-long thing was Dudleys tongue and that a brightly glum toffee wrapper lay on the floor before him.Aunt Petunia hurled herself onto the ground beside Dudley, seized the end of his swollen tongue, and attempted to wrench it out of his mouth unsurprisingly, Dudley yelled and sputtered worse than ever, onerous to fight her off. Uncle Vernon was hollow and waving his arms around, and Mr. Weasley had to shout to make himself heard.Not to worry, I can sort him out he y elled, advancing on Dudley with his wand outstretched, but Aunt Petunia screamed worse than ever and threw herself on top of Dudley, shielding him from Mr. Weasley.No, really said Mr. Weasley desperately. Its a childlike process it was the toffee my son Fred real practical joker but its only an Engorgement magic spell at least, I think it is please, I can correct it -But removed from being reassured, the Dursleys became more panic- stricken Aunt Petunia was mother fucker hysterically, tugging Dudleys tongue as though determined to rip it out Dudley appeared to be suffocating under the combined haul of his mother and his tongue and Uncle Vernon, who had lost control completely, seized a china figure from on top of the comeback and threw it very hard at Mr. Weasley, who ducked, causing the ornament to fracture in the blasted fireplace.Now really said Mr. Weasley angrily, brandishing his wand. Im trying to helpbellowing like a wounded hippo, Uncle Vernon snatched up another ornament.Harry, go Just go Mr. Weasley shouted, his wand on Uncle Vernon. Ill sort this outHarry didnt want to miss the fun, but Uncle Vernons second ornament narrowly missed his left ear, and on equilibrise he thought it best to come out the situation to Mr. Weasley. He stepped into the fire, looking over his shoulder as he said the Burrow His last fleeting coup doeil of the living room was of Mr. Weasley blasting a third ornament out of Uncle Vernons hand with his wand, Aunt Petunia screaming and lying on top of Dudley, and Dudleys tongue lolling around like a great slimy python. But next moment Harry had begun to spin very fast, and the Dursleys living room was whipped out of quid in a rush of emerald-green flames.