MANIA - HJP

CHAPTER IV

Harry and Dumbledore reached the Burrow's back door, which was surrounded by the usual litter of old Wellington boots and rusted cauldrons; Harry could hear the faint clucking of sleeping chickens from a distant shed. Harry noticed movement behind the kitchen window after Dumbledore knocked three times.

  "Who's there?" said an apprehensive voice he recognized as Mrs. Weasley's. "Declare yourself!"

"It is I, Dumbledore, bringing Harry."

The door swung open instantly. Mrs. Weasley stood there, short, plump, and dressed in an old green dressing robe.

 "Harry, dear! Gracious, Albus, you gave me a fright, you said not to expect you before morning!"

"We were lucky," said Dumbledore, ushering Harry over the threshold. "Slughorn proved much more persuadable than I had expected. Harry's doing, of course. Ah, hello, Nymphadora!"

Despite the late hour, Harry looked around and realised that Mrs. Weasley was not alone. A young witch sat at the table, a large mug clutched in her hands, with a pale, heart-shaped face and mousy brown hair.

  "Hello, Professor," she said. "Wotcher, Harry. "

"Hi, Tonks."

Harry thought she appeared tired, even unwell, and that her smile was forced. Her appearance was certainly less vivid than normal without her signature bubblegum pink hair.

 "I'd better be off," she said quickly, standing up and pulling her cloak around her shoulders. "Thanks for the tea and sympathy, Molly. "

"Please don't leave on my account," said Dumbledore courteously, "I cannot stay, I have urgent matters to discuss with Rufus Scrimgeour. "

"No, no, I need to get going," said Tonks, not meeting Dumbledore's eyes. "'Night. . . "

"Dear, why not come to dinner at the weekend, Remus and Mad-Eye are coming. . . ?"

"No, really, Molly. . . thanks anyway. . . Goodnight, everyone. "

Tonks dashed past Dumbledore and Harry into the yard, turning on the spot and disappearing into thin air a few yards beyond the door. Mrs. Weasley seemed disturbed, Harry noticed.

"Well, I shall see you at Hogwarts, Harry," said Dumbledore. "Take care of yourself. Molly, your servant."

He bowed to Mrs. Weasley and followed Tonks, disappearing in the same area. Mrs. Weasley shut the door on the empty yard and led Harry by the shoulders into the bright light of the table lantern to assess his appearance.

"You're like Ron," she sighed, looking him up and down. "Both of you look as though you've had Stretching jinxes put on you. I swear Ron's grown four inches since I last bought him school robes. Are you hungry, Harry?"

"Yeah, I am," said Harry, suddenly realizing just how hungry he was.

"Sit down, dear, I'll knock something up. "

As Harry sat down, a furry ginger cat with a squashed face lumped onto his knees and settled there, purring.

"So Hermione's here?" he asked happily as he tickled Crookshanks behind the ears.

"Oh yes, she arrived the day before yesterday," said Mrs. Weasley, rapping a large iron pot with her wand. It bounced onto the stove with a loud clang and began to bubble at once. "Everyone's in bed, of course, we didn't expect you for hours. Here you are. . . "