Harry Potter 06 - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

another couple of Dementor attacks,’ he announced, as Mrs Weasley passed him a large slice of birthday cake. ‘And they’ve found Igor Karkaroff’s body in a shack up north. The Dark Mark had been set over it – well, frankly, I’m surprised he stayed alive for even a year after deserting the Death Eaters; Sirius’s brother Regulus only managed a few days as far as I can remember.’
    ‘Yes, well,’ said Mrs Weasley, frowning, ‘perhaps we should talk about something diff—’
    ‘Did you hear about Florean Fortescue, Remus?’ asked Bill, who was being plied with wine by Fleur. ‘The man who ran –’
    ‘– the ice-cream place in Diagon Alley?’ Harry interrupted, with an unpleasant, hollow sensation in the pit of his stomach. ‘He used to give me free ice creams. What’s happened to him?’
    ‘Dragged off, by the look of his place.’
    ‘Why?’ asked Ron, while Mrs Weasley pointedly glared at Bill.
    ‘Who knows? He must’ve upset them somehow. He was a good man, Florean.’
    ‘Talking of Diagon Alley,’ said Mr Weasley, ‘looks like Ollivander’s gone too.’
    ‘The wand-maker?’ said Ginny, looking startled.
    ‘That’s the one. Shop’s empty. No sign of a struggle. No one knows whether he left voluntarily or was kidnapped.’
    ‘But wands – what’ll people do for wands?’
    ‘They’ll make do with other makers,’ said Lupin. ‘But Ollivander was the best, and if the other side have got him it’s not so good for us.’
    The day after this rather gloomy birthday tea, their letters and book lists arrived from Hogwarts. Harry’s included a surprise: he had been made Quidditch Captain.
    ‘That gives you equal status with prefects!’ cried Hermione happily. ‘You can use our special bathroom now, and everything!’
    ‘Wow, I remember when Charlie wore one of these,’ said Ron, examining the badge with glee. ‘Harry, this is so cool, you’re my captain – if you let me back on the team, I suppose, ha ha …’
    ‘Well, I don’t suppose we can put off a trip to Diagon Alley much longer now you’ve got these,’ sighed Mrs Weasley, looking down Ron’s book list. ‘We’ll go on Saturday as long as your father doesn’t have to go into work again. I’m not going there without him.’
    ‘Mum, d’you honestly think You-Know-Who’s going to be hiding behind a bookshelf in Flourish and Blotts?’ sniggered Ron.
    ‘Fortescue and Ollivander went on holiday, did they?’ said Mrs Weasley, firing up at once. ‘If you think security’s a laughing matter you can stay behind and I’ll get your things myself –’
    ‘No, I wanna come, I want to see Fred and George’s shop!’ said Ron hastily.
    ‘Then you just buck up your ideas, young man, before I decide you’re too immature to come with us!’ said Mrs Weasley angrily, snatching up her clock, all nine hands of which were still pointing at mortal peril , and balancing it on top of a pile of just-laundered towels. ‘And that goes for returning to Hogwarts, as well!’
    Ron turned to stare incredulously at Harry as his mother hoisted the laundry basket and the teetering clock into her arms and stormed out of the room.
    ‘Blimey … you can’t even make a joke round here any more …’
    But Ron was careful not to be flippant about Voldemort over the next few days. Saturday dawned without any more outbursts from Mrs Weasley, though she seemed very tense at breakfast. Bill, who would be staying at home with Fleur (much to Hermione and Ginny’s pleasure), passed a full money-bag across the table to Harry.
    ‘Where’s mine?’ demanded Ron at once, his eyes wide.
    ‘That’s already Harry’s, idiot,’ said Bill. ‘I got it out of your vault for you, Harry, because it’s taking about five hours for the public to get to their gold at the moment, the goblins have tightened security so much. Two days ago Arkie Philpott had a Probity Probe stuck up his … well, trust me, this way’s easier.’
    ‘Thanks, Bill,’ said Harry, pocketing his gold.
    ‘’E is always so thoughtful,’ purred Fleur adoringly, stroking Bill’s nose. Ginny mimed vomiting into her cereal behind Fleur. Harry choked over his cornflakes and Ron thumped him on the back.
    It was an overcast, murky day. One of the special Ministry of Magic cars, in which Harry had ridden once before, was awaiting them in the front yard when they emerged from the house pulling on their cloaks.
    ‘It’s good Dad can get us these again,’ said Ron