The Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling

Author:J. K. Rowling [Rowling, J. K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pottermore
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

— CHAPTER SEVENTEEN —

A Sluggish Memory

Late in the afternoon, a few days after New Year, Harry, Ron and Ginny lined up beside the kitchen fire to return to Hogwarts. The Ministry had arranged this one-off connection to the Floo Network to return students quickly and safely to the school. Only Mrs Weasley was there to say goodbye, as Mr Weasley, Fred, George, Bill and Fleur were all at work. Mrs Weasley dissolved into tears at the moment of parting. Admittedly, it took very little to set her off lately; she had been crying on and off ever since Percy had stormed from the house on Christmas Day with his glasses splattered with mashed parsnip (for which Fred, George and Ginny all claimed credit).

‘Don’t cry, Mum,’ said Ginny, patting her on the back as Mrs Weasley sobbed into her shoulder. ‘It’s OK …’

‘Yeah, don’t worry about us,’ said Ron, permitting his mother to plant a very wet kiss on his cheek, ‘or about Percy. He’s such a prat, it’s not really a loss, is it?’

Mrs Weasley sobbed harder than ever as she enfolded Harry in her arms.

‘Promise me you’ll look after yourself … stay out of trouble …’

‘I always do, Mrs Weasley,’ said Harry. ‘I like a quiet life, you know me.’

She gave a watery chuckle and stood back.

‘Be good, then, all of you …’

Harry stepped into the emerald fire and shouted, ‘Hogwarts!’ He had one last fleeting view of the Weasleys’ kitchen and Mrs Weasley’s tearful face before the flames engulfed him; spinning very fast, he caught blurred glimpses of other wizarding rooms, which were whipped out of sight before he could get a proper look; then he was slowing down, finally stopping squarely in the fireplace in Professor McGonagall’s office. She barely glanced up from her work as he clambered out over the grate.

‘Evening, Potter. Try not to get too much ash on the carpet.’

‘No, Professor.’

Harry straightened his glasses and flattened his hair as Ron came spinning into view. When Ginny had arrived, all three of them trooped out of McGonagall’s office and off towards Gryffindor Tower. Harry glanced out of the corridor windows as they passed; the sun was already sinking over grounds carpeted in deeper snow than had lain over The Burrow garden. In the distance, he could see Hagrid feeding Buckbeak in front of his cabin.

‘Baubles,’ said Ron confidently, when they reached the Fat Lady, who was looking rather paler than usual, and winced at his loud voice.

‘No,’ she said.

‘What d’you mean, “no”?’

‘There is a new password,’ she said. ‘And please don’t shout.’

‘But we’ve been away, how’re we supposed to –?’

‘Harry! Ginny!’

Hermione was hurrying towards them, very pink-faced and wearing a cloak, hat and gloves.

‘I got back a couple of hours ago, I’ve just been down to visit Hagrid and Buck— I mean Witherwings,’ she said breathlessly. ‘Did you have a good Christmas?’

‘Yeah,’ said Ron at once, ‘pretty eventful, Rufus Scrim—’

‘I’ve got something for you, Harry,’ said Hermione, neither looking at Ron nor giving any sign that she had heard him.

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