.What.did.he.say?..asked.George..
.Said.he.d.give.me.another.bite.if.I.didn.t.shut.up,..said.Mr.Weasley.sadly...And.that.woman.over.there,..he.indicated.the.only.other.occupied.bed,.which.was.right.beside.the.door,..won.t.tell.the.Healers.what.bit.her,.which.makes.us.all.think.it.must.have.been.something.she.was.handling.illegally..Whatever.it.was.took.a.real.chunk.out.of.her.leg,.very.nasty.smell.when.they.take.off.the.dressings...
.So,.you.going.to.tell.us.what.happened,.Dad?..asked.Fred,.pulling.his.chair.closer.to.the.bed..
.Well,.you.already.know,.don.t.you?..said.Mr.Weasley,.with.a.significant.smile.at.Harry...It.s.very.simple.‐.I.d.had.a.very.long.day,.dozed.off,.got.sneaked.up.on.and.bitten...
.Is.it.in.the.Prophet,.you.being.attacked?..asked.Fred,.indicating.the.newspaper.Mr.Weasley.had.cast.aside..
.No,.of.course.not,..said.Mr.Weasley,.with.a.slightly.bitter.smile,..the.Ministry.wouldn.t.want.everyone.to.know.a.dirty.great.serpent.got.—..
.Arthur!..Mrs.Weasley.warned.him..
.‐.got.‐.er.‐.me,..Mr.Weasley.said.hastily,.though.Harry.was.quite.sure.that.was.not.what.he.had.meant.to.say..
.So.where.were.you.when.it.happened,.Dad?..asked.George..
That.s.my.business,..said.Mr.Weasley,.though.with.a.small.smile..He.snatched.up.the.Daily.Prophet,.shook.it.open.again.and.said,..I.was.just.reading.about.Willy.Widdershins.s.arrest.when.you.arrived..You.know.Willy.turned.out.to.be.behind.those.regurgitating.toilets.back.in.the.summer?.One.of.his.jinxes.backfired,.the.toilet.exploded.and.they.found.him.lying.unconscious.in.the.wreckage.covered.from.head.to.foot.in.‐..
.When.you.say.you.were..on.duty.,..Fred.interrupted.in.a.low.voice,..what.were.you.doing?..
.You.heard.your.father,..whispered.Mrs.Weasley,..we.are.not.discussing.this.here!.Go.on.about.Willy.Widdershins,.Arthur...
.Well,.don.t.ask.me.how,.but.he.actually.got.off.the.toilet.charge,..said.Mr.Weasley.grimly...I.can.only.suppose.gold.changed.hands.‐..
.You.were.guarding.it,.weren.t.you?..said.George.quietly..The.weapon?.The.thing.You‐Know‐Who.s.after?..
.George,.be.quiet!..snapped.Mrs.Weasley..
.Anyway,..said.Mr.Weasley,.in.a.raised.voice,..this.time.Willy.s.been.caught.selling.biting.doorknobs.to.Muggles.and.I.don.t.think.he.ll.be.able.to.worm.his.way.out.of.it.because,.according.to.this.article,.two.Muggles.have.lost.fingers.and.are.now.in.St.Mungo.s.for.emergency.bone.re‐growth.and.memory.modification.
.Just.think.of.it,.Muggles.in.St.Mungo.s!.I.wonder.which.ward.they.re.in?..
And.he.looked.eagerly.around.as.though.hoping.to.see.a.signpost..
.Didn.t.you.say.You‐Know‐Who.s.got.a.snake,.Harry?..asked.Fred,.looking.at.his.father.for.a.reaction...A.massive.one?.You.saw.it.the.night.he.returned,.didn.t.you?..
That.s.enough,..said.Mrs.Weasley.crossly...Mad‐Eye.and.Tonks.are.outside,
.Arthur,.they.want.to.come.and.see.you..And.you.lot.can.wait.outside,..she.added.to.her.children.and.Harry...You.can.come.and.say.goodbye.afterwards..Go.on...
They.trooped.back.into.the.corridor..Mad‐Eye.and.Tonks.went.in.and.closed.the.door.of.the.ward.behind.them..Fred.raised.his.eyebrows..