The Weasley of Slytherin: The Deathly Hallows

Chapter 6: Mundungus

I'd assumed that the capture of Mundungus would take a few hours at most, as did Harry it seemed as he prowled the house all morning in a state of high anticipation. However, Kreacher did not return that morning or even that afternoon.

By nightfall, I could tell Harry felt discouraged and anxious, and our supper composed largely of moldy bread, upon which Hermione had tried a variety of unsuccessful Transfigurations, certainly did nothing to help.

Kreacher did not return the following day, nor the day after that. However, two cloaked men had appeared in the square outside number twelve, and they remained there into the night, gazing in the direction of the house that they could not see.

"Death Eaters, for sure," said Ron, as he, Harry, Hermione, and I watched from the drawing room windows. "Reckon they know we're in here?"

"I don't think so," said Hermione, though she looked frightened, "or they'd have sent Snape in after us, wouldn't they?"

"I could try and hit them from here." I said pulling out my wand.

"I don't know how that will affect the protective charms on the house." Hermione said anxiously.

"Well it won't matter either way if they do send Snape." I said.

"D'you reckon he's been in here and had his tongue tied by Moody's curse?" asked Ron.

"Yes," said Hermione, "otherwise he'd have been able to tell that lot how to get in, wouldn't he? But they're probably watching to see whether we turn up. They know that Harry owns the house, after all."

"How do they — ?" began Harry.

"Wizarding wills are examined by the Ministry, remember? They'll know Sirius left you the place." I told him.

The presence of the Death Eaters outside increased the ominous mood inside number twelve. We had not heard a word from anyone beyond Grimmauld Place since Arthur's Patronus, and the strain was starting to become apparent.

Restless and irritable, Ron had developed an annoying habit of playing with the Deluminator in his pocket: This particularly infuriated Hermione, who was whiling away the wait for Kreacher by studying The Tales of Beedle the Bard and did not appreciate the way the lights kept flashing on and off.

"Will you stop it!" she cried on the third evening of Kreacher's absence, as all light was sucked from the drawing room yet again.

"Sorry, sorry!" said Ron, clicking the Deluminator and restoring the lights. "I don't know I'm doing it!"

"What you can't tell the damn lights keep turning off?" I asked him bitterly, the constant flickering was getting on my nerves.

"Can't you find something useful to occupy yourself?"

"What, like reading kids' stories?"

"Dumbledore left me this book, Ron —"

"— and he left me the Deluminator, maybe I'm supposed to use it!"

"If you keep using it like that, I'll stick it somewhere there is no light!" I told him.

"It's not my fault the ministry wouldn't let you have Fawkes." Ron told me bitterly.

"What does that have to do with anything Ron?" I asked him.

"You're jealous of the Deluminator, because you didn't get the Phoenix." Ron said to me.

"Oh that's real mature Ronald." I told him.

"Where's Harry?" Hermione asked suddenly making us jump.