Amelia Potter and the Chamber of Secrets PART 1

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she'll be all pleased to see Harry and no one need ever know we flew the car.'

'Right,' said Ron. 'Come on, Harry, I sleep at the –'

Ron had gone a nasty greenish colour, his eyes fixed on the house. The other three wheeled around.

Mrs Weasley was marching across the yard, scattering chickens, and for a short, plump, kind-faced woman, it was remarkable how much she looked like a sabre-toothed tiger.

'Ah,' said Fred.

'Oh dear,' said George.

Mrs Weasley came to a halt in front of them, her hands on her hips, staring from one guilty face to the next. She was wearing a flowered apron with a wand sticking out of the pocket.

'So,' she said.

'Morning, Mum,' said George, in what he clearly thought was a jaunty, winning voice.

'Have you any idea how worried I've been?' said Mrs Weasley in a deadly whisper.

'Sorry, Mum, but see, we had to –'

All three of Mrs Weasley's sons were taller than she was, but they cowered as her rage broke over them.

'Beds empty! No note! Car gone ... could have crashed ... out of my mind with worry ... did you care? ... never, as long as I've lived ... you wait until your father gets home, we never had trouble like this from Bill or Charlie or Percy ...'

'Perfect Percy,' muttered Fred.

'YOU COULD DO WITH TAKING A LEAF OUT OF PERCY'S BOOK!' yelled Mrs Weasley, prodding a finger in Fred's chest. 'You could have died, you could have been seen, you could have lost your father his job –'

It seemed to go on for hours. Mrs Weasley had shouted herself hoarse before she turned on Harry, who backed away.

'I'm very pleased to see you, Harry, dear,' she said, 'Come in and have some breakfast.'

She turned and walked back into the house and Harry, after a nervous glance at Ron, who nodded encouragingly, followed her.

The kitchen was small and rather cramped. There was a scrubbed wooden table and chairs in the middle and Harry sat down on the edge of his seat, looking around. He had never been in a wizard house before.