Harry Potter 05 - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Read Online Free PDF Page B

the hall. ‘I haven’t finished with you, boy!’
    ‘Get out of the way,’ said Harry quietly.
    ‘You’re going to stay here and explain how my son –’
    ‘If you don’t get out of the way I’m going to jinx you,’ said Harry, raising the wand.
    ‘You can’t pull that one on me!’ snarled Uncle Vernon. ‘I know you’re not allowed to use it outside that madhouse you call a school!’
    ‘The madhouse has chucked me out,’ said Harry. ‘So I can do whatever I like. You’ve got three seconds. One – two –’
    A resounding CRACK filled the kitchen. Aunt Petunia screamed, Uncle Vernon yelled and ducked, but for the third time that night Harry was searching for the source of a disturbance he had not made. He spotted it at once: a dazed and ruffled-looking barn owl was sitting outside on the kitchen sill, having just collided with the closed window.
    Ignoring Uncle Vernon’s anguished yell of ‘OWLS!’ Harry crossed the room at a run and wrenched the window open. The owl stuck out its leg, to which a small roll of parchment was tied, shook its feathers, and took off the moment Harry had taken the letter. Hands shaking, Harry unfurled the second message, which was written very hastily and blotchily in black ink.
     
    Harry –
    Dumbledore’s just arrived at the Ministry and he’s trying to sort it all out. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE’S HOUSE. DO NOT DO ANY MORE MAGIC. DO NOT SURRENDER YOUR WAND.
    Arthur Weasley
     
    Dumbledore was trying to sort it all out … what did that mean? How much power did Dumbledore have to override the Ministry of Magic? Was there a chance that he might be allowed back to Hogwarts, then? A small shoot of hope burgeoned in Harry’s chest, almost immediately strangled by panic – how was he supposed to refuse to surrender his wand without doing magic? He’d have to duel with the Ministry representatives, and if he did that, he’d be lucky to escape Azkaban, let alone expulsion.
    His mind was racing … he could run for it and risk being captured by the Ministry, or stay put and wait for them to find him here. He was much more tempted by the former course, but he knew Mr Weasley had his best interests at heart … and after all, Dumbledore had sorted out much worse than this before.
    ‘Right,’ Harry said, ‘I’ve changed my mind, I’m staying.’
    He flung himself down at the kitchen table and faced Dudley and Aunt Petunia. The Dursleys appeared taken aback at his abrupt change of mind. Aunt Petunia glanced despairingly at Uncle Vernon. The vein in his purple temple was throbbing worse than ever.
    ‘Who are all these ruddy owls from?’ he growled.
    ‘The first one was from the Ministry of Magic, expelling me,’ said Harry calmly. He was straining his ears to catch any noises outside, in case the Ministry representatives were approaching, and it was easier and quieter to answer Uncle Vernon’s questions than to have him start raging and bellowing. ‘The second one was from my friend Ron’s dad, who works at the Ministry.’
    ‘Ministry of Magic?’ bellowed Uncle Vernon. ‘People like you in government ? Oh, this explains everything, everything, no wonder the country’s going to the dogs.’
    When Harry did not respond, Uncle Vernon glared at him, then spat out, ‘And why have you been expelled?’
    ‘Because I did magic.’
    ‘AHA!’ roared Uncle Vernon, slamming his fist down on top of the fridge, which sprang open; several of Dudley’s low-fat snacks toppled out and burst on the floor. ‘So you admit it! What did you do to Dudley? ’
    ‘Nothing,’ said Harry, slightly less calmly. ‘That wasn’t me –’
    ‘ Was ,’ muttered Dudley unexpectedly, and Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia instantly made flapping gestures at Harry to quieten him while they both bent low over Dudley.
    ‘Go on, son,’ said Uncle Vernon, ‘what did he do?’
    ‘Tell us, darling,’ whispered Aunt Petunia.
    ‘Pointed his wand at me,’ Dudley mumbled.
    ‘Yeah, I