Draco’s Detour

           HarryremainedwithintheconfinesoftheBurrow’sgardenoverthenextfewweeks.Hespentmostofhisdaysplayingtwo-a-sideQuidditchintheWeasleys’orchard(heandHermioneagainstRonandGinny;HermionewasdreadfulandGinnygood,sotheywerereasonablywellmatched)andhiseveningseatingtriplehelpingsofeverythingMrs.Weasleyputinfrontofhim.

           Itwouldhavebeenahappy,peacefulholidayhaditnotbeenforthestoriesofdisappearances,oddaccidents,evenofdeathsnowappearingalmostdailyintheProphet.SometimesBillandMr.Weasleybroughthomenewsbeforeitevenreachedthepaper.ToMrs.Weasley’sdispleasure,Harry’ssixteenthbirthdaycelebrationsweremarredbygrislytidingsbroughttothepartybyRemusLupin,whowaslookinggauntandgrim,hisbrownhairstreakedliberallywithgray,hisclothesmoreraggedandpatchedthanever.

           "Therehavebeenanothercoupleofdementorattacks,"heannounced,asMrs.Weasleypassedhimalargesliceofbirthdaycake."Andthey’vefoundIgorKarkaroff’sbodyinashackupnorth.TheDarkMarkhadbeensetoverit...well,frankly,I’msurprisedhestayedaliveforevenayearafterdesertingtheDeathEaters;Sirius’sbrother,Regulus,onlymanagedafewdaysasfarasIcanremember."

           "Yes,well,"saidMrs.Weasley,frowning,"perhapsweshouldtalkaboutsomethingdiff..."

           "DidyouhearaboutFloreanFortescue,Remus?"askedBill,whowasbeingpliedwithwinebyFleur.