A very frosty Christmas

           "SoSnapewasofferingtohelphim?Hewasdefinitelyofferingtohelphim?"

           "Ifyouask.thatoncemore,"saidHarry,"I’mgoingtostickthissprout—"

           "I’monlychecking!"saidRon.TheywerestandingaloneattheBurrow’skitchensink,peelingamountainofsproutsforMrs.Weasley.Snowwasdriftingpastthewindowinfrontofthem.

           "Yes,Snapewasofferingtohelphim!"saidHarry."Hesaidhe’dpromisedMalfoy’smothertoprotecthim,thathe’dmadeanUnbreakableOathorsomething—"

           "AnUnbreakableVow?"saidRon,lookingstunned."Nah,hecan’thave...Areyousure?"

           "Yes,I’msure,"saidHarry."Why,whatdoesitmean?"

           "Well,youcan’tbreakanUnbreakableVow..."

           "I’dworkedthatmuchoutformyself,funnilyenough.Whathappensifyoubreakit,then?"

           "Youdie,"saidRonsimply."FredandGeorgetriedtogetmetomakeonewhenIwasaboutfive.Inearlydidtoo,IwasholdinghandswithFredandeverythingwhenDadfoundus.Hewentmental,"saidRon,withareminiscentgleaminhiseyes."OnlytimeI’veeverseenDadasangryasMum,Fredreckonshisleftbuttockhasneverbeenthesamesince."

           "Yeah,well,passingoverFred’sleftbuttock—"

           "Ibegyourpardon?"saidFred’svoiceasthetwinsenteredthekitchen.

           "Aaah,George,lookatthis.They’reusingknivesandeverything.Blessthem.