He.glanced.up.just.in.time.to.see.them.exchanging.a.look.that.told.him.he.was.behaving.just.as.they.had.feared.he.would..It.did.nothing.to.improve.his.temper..
.We.told.Dumbledore.we.wanted.to.tell.you.what.was.going.on,..said.Ron...We.did,.mate..But.he.s.really.busy.now,.we.ve.only.seen.him.twice.since.we.came.here.and.he.didn.t.have.much.time,.he.just.made.us.swear.not.to.tell.you.important.stuff.when.we.wrote,.he.said.the.owls.might.be.intercepted...
.He.could.still.ve.kept.me.informed.if.he.d.wanted.to,..Harry.said.shortly...You.re.not.telling.me.he.doesn.t.know.ways.to.send.messages.without.owls...
Hermione.glanced.at.Ron.and.then.said,..I.thought.that,.too..But.he.didn.t.want.you.to.know.anything...
.Maybe.he.thinks.1.can.t.be.trusted,..said.Harry,.watching.their.expressions..
.Don.t.be.thick,..said.Ron,.looking.highly.disconcerted..
.Or.that.I.can.t.take.care.of.myself...
.Of.course.he.doesn.t.think.that!..said.Hermione.anxiously..
.So.how.come.I.have.to.stay.at.the.Dursleys..while.you.two.get.to.join.in.everything.that.s.going.on.here?..said.Harry,.the.words.tumbling.over.one.another.in.a.rush,.his.voice.growing.louder.with.every.word...How.come.you.two.are.allowed.to.know.everything.that.s.going.on?..
.We.re.not!..Ron.interrupted...Mum.won.t.let.us.near.the.meetings,.she.says.we.re.too.young.‐..
But.before.he.knew.it,.Harry.was.shouting..
.SO.YOU.HAVEN.T.BEEN.IN.THE.MEETINGS,.BIG.DEAL!.YOU.VE.STILL.BEEN.HERE,.HAVEN.T.YOU?.YOU.VE.STILL.BEEN.TOGETHER!.ME,.I.VE.BEEN.STUCK.AT.THE.DURSLEYS..FOR.A.MONTH!.AND.I.VE.HANDLED.MORE.THAN.YOU.TWO.VE.EVER.MANAGED.AND.DUMBLEDORE.KNOWS.IT.‐WHO.SAVED.THE.PHILOSOPHER.S.STONE?.WHO.GOT.RID.OF.RIDDLE?
.WHO.SAVED.BOTH.YOUR.SKINS.FROM.THE.DEMENTORS?..
Every.bitter.and.resentful.thought.Harry.had.had.in.the.past.month.was.pouring.out.of.him:.his.frustration.at.the.lack.of.news,.the.hurt.that.they.had.all.been.together.without.him,.his.fury.at.being.followed.and.not.told.about.it.‐.all.the.feelings.he.was.half‐ashamed.of.finally.burst.their.boundaries..Hedwig.took.fright.at.the.noise.and.soared.off.to.the.top.of.the.wardrobe.again;.Pigwidgeon.twittered.in.alarm.and.zoomed.even.taster.around.their.heads..
.WHO.HAD.TO.GET.PAST.DRAGONS.AND.SPHINXES.AND.EVERY.OTHER.FOUL.THING.LAST.YEAR?.WHO.SAW.HIM.COME.BACK?.WHO.HAD.TO.ESCAPE.FROM.HIM?.ME!..
Ron.was.standing.there.with.his.mouth.half‐open,.clearly.stunned.and.at.a.loss.for.anything.to.say,.whilst.Hermione.looked.on.the.verge.of.tears..
.BUT.WHY.SHOULD.I.KNOW.WHAT.S.GOING.ON?.WHY.SHOULD.ANYONE.BOTHER.TO.TELL.ME.WHAT.S.BEEN.HAPPENING?..
.Harry,.we.wanted.to.tell.you,.we.really.did.‐..Hermione.began..
.CANT.VE.WANTED.TO.THAT.MUCH,.CAN.YOU,.OR.YOU.D.HAVE.SENT.ME.AN.OWL,.BUT.DUMBLEDORE.MADE.YOU.SWEAR.‐
Well,.he.did.‐..
.FOUR.WEEKS.I.VE.BEEN.STUCK.IN.PRIVET.DRIVE,.NICKING.PAPERS.OUT.OF.BINS.TO.TRY.AND.FIND.OUT.WHAT.S.BEEN.GOING.ON.‐..
We.wanted.to.‐..
.I.SUPPOSE.YOU.VE.BEEN.HAVING.A.REAL.LAUGH,.HAVEN.T.YOU,.ALL.HOLED.UP.HERE.TOGETHER.‐..
.No,.honest.‐..