.Everything.all.right,.Arthur?..asked.Mrs.Weasley,.after.they.had.all.greeted.Mr.Weasley.and.handed.over.their.presents..
.Fine,.fine,..said.Mr.Weasley,.a.little.too.heartily...You.—.er.—.haven.t.seen.Healer.Smethwyck,.have.you?..
.No,..said.Mrs.Weasley.suspiciously,..why?..
.Nothing,.nothing,..said.Mr.Weasley.airily,.starting.to.unwrap.his.pile.of.gifts.
.
.Well,.everyone.had.a.good.day?.What.did.you.all.get.for.Christmas?.Oh,.Harry.‐
.this.is.absolutely.wonderful!..For.he.had.just.opened.Harry.s.gift.of.fuse‐wire.and.screwdrivers..
Mrs.Weasley.did.not.seem.entirely.satisfied.with.Mr.Weasley.s.answer..As.her.husband.leaned.over.to.shake.Harry.s.hand,.she.peered.at.the.bandaging.under.his.nightshirt..
.Arthur,..she.said,.with.a.snap.in.her.voice.like.a.mousetrap,..you.ve.had.your.bandages.changed..Why.have.you.had.your.bandages.changed.a.day.early,
.Arthur?.They.told.me.they.wouldn.t.need.doing.until.tomorrow...
.What?..said.Mr.Weasley,.looking.rather.frightened.and.pulling.the.bed.covers.higher.up.his.chest...No,.no.‐.it.s.nothing.‐.it.s.‐l‐
He.seemed.to.deflate.under.Mrs.Weasley.s.piercing.gaze..
.Well.‐.now.don.t.get.upset,.Molly,.but.Augustus.Pye.had.an.idea….he.s.the.Trainee.Healer,.you.know,.lovely.young.chap.and.very.interested.in….um…
.complementary.medicine….1.mean,.some.of.these.old.Muggle.remedies….well,
.they.re.called.stitches,.Molly,.and.they.work.very.well.on.‐.on.Muggle.wounds.‐..
Mrs.Weasley.let.out.an.ominous.noise.somewhere.between.a.shriek.and.a.snarl.
.Lupin.strolled.away.from.the.bed.and.over.to.the.werewolf,.who.had.no.visitors.and.was.looking.rather.wistfully.at.the.crowd.around.Mr.Weasley;.Bill.muttered.something.about.getting.himself.a.cup.of.tea.and.Fred.and.George.leapt.up.to.accompany.him,.grinning..
.Do.you.mean.to.tell.me,..said.Mrs.Weasley,.her.voice.growing.louder.with.every.word.and.apparently.unaware.that.her.fellow.visitors.were.scurrying.for.cover,
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.that.you.have.been.messing.about.with.Muggle.remedies?..
.Not.messing.about,.Molly,.dear,..said.Mr.Weasley.imploringly,..it.was.just.‐.just.something.Pye.and.I.thought.we.d.try.‐.only,.most.unfortunately.—.well,.with.these.particular.kinds.of.wounds.‐.it.doesn.t.seem.to.work.as.well.as.we.d.hoped.‐..
.Meaning?.
.Well….well,.1.don.t.know.whether.you.know.what.‐.what.stitches.are?..
.It.sounds.as.though.you.ve.been.trying.to.sew.your.skin.back.together,..said.Mrs.Weasley.with.a.snort.of.mirthless.laughter,..but.even.you,.Arthur,.wouldn.t.be.that.stupid.—..
.I.fancy.a.cup.of.tea,.too,..said.Harry,.jumping.to.his.feet..
Hermione,.Ron.and.Ginny.almost.sprinted.to.the.door.with.him..As.it.swung.closed.behind.them,.they.heard.Mrs.Weasley.shriek,..WHAT.DO.YOU.MEAN,
.THAT.S.THE.GENERAL.IDEA?..
Typical.Dad,..said.Ginny,.shaking.her.head.as.they.set.off.up.the.corridor.
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.Stitches….I.ask.you…..
.Well,.you.know,.they.do.work.well.on.non‐magical.wounds,..said.Hermione.fairly...I.suppose.something.in.that.snake.s.venom.dissolves.them.or.something..I.wonder.where.the.tearoom.is?..