Soon,.a.series.of.heavy.knives.were.chopping.meat.and.vegetables.of.their.own.accord,.supervised.by.Mr.Weasley,.while.Mrs.Weasley.stirred.a.cauldron.dangling.over.the.fire.and.the.others.took.out.plates,.more.goblets.and.food.from.the.pantry..Harry.was.left.at.the.table.with.Sirius.and.Mundungus,.who.was.still.blinking.at.him.mournfully..
.Seen.old.Figgy.since?..he.asked..
.No,..said.Harry,..I.haven.t.seen.anyone...
.See,.I.wouldn.t..ave.left,..said.Mundungus,.leaning.forward,.a.pleading.note.in.his.voice,..but.I..ad.a.business.opportunity.‐..
Harry.felt.something.brush.against.his.knees.and.started,.but.it.was.only.Crookshanks,.Hermione.s.bandy‐legged.ginger.cat,.who.wound.himself.once.
around.Harry.s.legs,.purring,.then.jumped.on.to.Sirius.s.lap.and.curled.up..Sirius.scratched.him.absent‐mindedly.behind.the.ears.as.he.turned,.still.grim‐faced,.to.Harry..
.Had.a.good.summer.so.far?..
.No,.it.s.been.lousy,..said.Harry..
For.the.first.time,.something.like.a.grin.flitted.across.Sirius.s.face..
.Don.t.know.what.you.re.complaining.about,.myself...
.What?..said.Harry.incredulously..
.Personally,.I.d.have.welcomed.a.Dementor.attack..A.deadly.struggle.for.my.soul.would.have.broken.the.monotony.nicely..You.think.you.ve.had.it.bad,.at.least.you.ve.been.able.to.get.out.and.about,.stretch.your.legs,.get.into.a.few.fights…
.I.ve.been.stuck.inside.for.a.month...
.How.come?..asked.Harry,.frowning..
.Because.the.Ministry.of.Magic.s.still.after.me,.and.Voldemort.will.know.all.about.me.being.an.Animagus.by.now,.Wormtail.will.have.told.him,.so.my.big.disguise.is.useless..There.s.not.much.I.can.do.for.the.Order.of.the.Phoenix….or.so.Dumbledore.feels...
There.was.something.about.the.slightly.flattened.tone.of.voice.in.which.Sirius.uttered.Dumbledore.s.name.that.told.Harry.that.Sirius,.too,.was.not.very.happy.with.the.Headmaster..Harry.felt.a.sudden.upsurge.of.affection.for.his.godfather..
At.least.you.ve.known.what.s.been.going.on,..he.said.bracingly..
.Oh.yeah,..said.Sirius.sarcastically...Listening.to.Snape.s.reports,.having.to.take.all.his.snide.hints.that.he.s.out.there.risking.his.life.while.I.m.sat.on.my.backside.here.having.a.nice.comfortable.time….asking.me.how.the.cleanings.going.‐..
.What.cleaning?..asked.Harry..
Trying.to.make.this.place.fit.for.human.habitation,..said.Sirius,.waving.a.hand.around.the.dismal.kitchen...No.one.s.lived.here.for.ten.years,.not.since.my.dear.
mother.died,.unless.you.count.her.old.house‐elf,.and.he.s.gone.round.the.twist.‐
.hasn.t.cleaned.anything.in.ages...
.Sirius,..said.Mundungus,.who.did.not.appear.to.have.paid.any.attention.to.the.conversation,.but.had.been.closely.examining.an.empty.goblet...This.solid.silver,
.mate?..
.Yes,..said.Sirius,.surveying.it.with.distaste...Finest.fifteenth‐century.goblin‐
wrought.silver,.embossed.with.the.Black.family.crest...
That.d.come.orf,.though,..muttered.Mundungus,.polishing.it.with.his.cuff..
.Fred.‐.George.‐.NO,.JUST.CARRY.THEM!..Mrs.Weasley.shrieked..
Harry,.Sirius.and.Mundungus.looked.round.and,.within.a.split.second,.they.had.dived.away.from.the.table..Fred.and.George.had.bewitched.a.large.cauldron.of.stew,.an.iron.flagon.of.Butterbeer.and.a.heavy.wooden.breadboard,.complete.with.knife,.to.hurtle.through.the.air.towards.them..The.stew.skidded.the.length.of.the.table.and.came.to.a.halt.just.before.the.end,.leaving.a.long.black.burn.on.the.wooden.surface;.the.flagon.of.Butterbeer.fell.with.a.crash,.spilling.its.contents.everywhere;.the.bread.knife.slipped.off.the.board.and.landed,.point.down.and.quivering.ominously,.exactly.where.Sirius.s.right.hand.had.been.seconds.before..