clumsy, did you hear me break that plate when we arrived downstairs?'
'Can you learn how to be a Metamorphmagus?' Harry asked her, straightening up,
completely forgetting about packing.
Tonks chuckled.
'Bet you wouldn't mind hiding that scar sometimes, eh?'
Her eyes found the lightning-shaped scar on Harrys forehead.
'No, I wouldn't mind,' Harry mumbled, turning away. He did not like people staring at his
scar.
'Well, you'll have to learn the hard way, I'm afraid,' said Tonks. 'Metamorphmagi are
really rare, they're born, not made. Most wizards need to use a wand, or potions, to
change their appearance. But we've got to get going, Harry, we're supposed to be
packing,' she added guiltily, looking around at all the mess on the floor.
'Oh — yeah,' said Harry, grabbing a few more books.
'Don't be stupid, it'll be much quicker if I - pack!' cried Tonks, waving her wand in a
long, sweeping movement over the floor.
Books, clothes, telescope and scales all soared into the air and flew pell-mell into the
trunk.
'It's not very neat,' said Tonks, walking over to the trunk and looking down at the jumble
inside. 'My mums got this knack of getting stuff to fit itself in neatly - she even gets the
socks to fold themselves - but I've never mastered how she does it - it's a kind of flick -'
She flicked her wand hopefully.
One of Harry's socks gave a feeble sort of wiggle and flopped back on top of the mess in
the trunk.
'Ah, well,' said Tonks, slamming the trunk's lid shut, 'at least it's all in. That could do with
a bit of cleaning, too.' She pointed her wand at Hedwig's cage. 'Scourgify.' A few feathers
and droppings vanished. 'Well, that's a bit better - I've never quite got the hang of these
householdy sort of spells. Right - got everything? Cauldron? Broom? Wow! - A
FireboltT
Her eyes widened as they fell on the broomstick in Harry's right hand It was his pride and
joy, a gift from Sirius, an international-standard broomstick.
'And I'm still riding a Comet Two Sixty' said Tonks enviously. 'Ah well… wand still in
your jeans? Both buttocks still on? OK, let's go. Locomotor trunk.'
Harry's trunk rose a few inches into the air. Holding her wand like a conductor's baton,
Tonks made the trunk hover across the room and out of the door ahead of them, Hedwig's
cage in her left hand. Harry followed her down the stairs carrying his broomstick.
Back in the kitchen Moody had replaced his eye, which was spinning so fast after its
cleaning it made Harry feel sick to look at it. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Sturgis Podmore
were examining the microwave and Hestia Jones was laughing at a potato peeler she had
come across while rummaging in the drawers. Lupin was sealing a letter addressed to the
Dursleys.
'Excellent,' said Lupin, looking up as Tonks and Harry entered. We've got about a minute,
I think. We should probably get out into the garden so we're ready. Harry, I've left a letter
telling your aunt and uncle not to worry -