The entire Weasley family, it seemed – with the exception of Charlie and Bill, who didn't live at home, and Percy, who thought such an enterprise below him – had come to meet Harry, and they were all still staring at him rather doubtfully. Then Ron spoke.

"Yeah," he said, grinning. "Fine."

Fred and George were soon speaking too. "Good to see you, Harry!" said George. Fred pounded him on the back enthusiastically, making Harry choke.

"Oh – sorry," he said, not sounding at all apologetic. "Have a cough sweet." He handed Harry a paper bag and Harry, who knew only too well not to take anything (and especially sweets) from the Weasley twins, frowned at them suspiciously.

"Er – no thanks," he said.

"Boys!" cried Mrs Weasley, sounding so annoyed that Harry began to wonder if maybe Ron hadn't been right about her being about to disown them. "I told you to put those things away!"

The taxi driver kept looking over his shoulder, worried. Harry grinned at him.

"How are you, Harry?" said Hermione, and Ginny looked at him shyly. Mr Weasley was trying to unobtrusively investigate the interior of the car – which was what many of the poor taxi driver's stares were directed at – and Harry was amazed they didn't crash. He was also wondering how they'd managed to fit eight people and an owl into the back of one cab – but he didn't have time to ponder on it long, because he was once again facing a barrage of questions.

"Are you eating enough, Harry dear? You look a bit thin."

"How did you manage to escape?"

"How's Ugly Dudley's tongue? Did your uncle cut it off for him?"

"How do you think Siri– Snuffles is?"

"What does this thing here do?"

The only question that Harry could find the time to answer was the last one, which belonged to Mr Weasley. He was poking at the car alarm, and Harry just managed to say "No – don't," before he poked it too hard and an awful noise like a siren went off. The taxi driver twisted round immediately, in shock, and Harry felt extremely sorry for him. The car pulled over onto the verge, and there was a sudden silence.

"Right!" shrieked the cabby, jabbing a finger at the air. "That's it! Out, all out!" He sounded remarkably like Uncle Vernon. The occupants of the car looked at each other, doubtfully.

"I think he wants us to get out," said George, sounding puzzled.

"Can't imagine why," added Fred.

"OUT!" screamed the taxi driver. The Weasleys, Harry and Hermione all got out.

"Er, thanks," said Mr Weasley, looking at the money he'd just dug out of his pocket in fascination. "Harry," he hissed. "What do I do with this? What do I give him?"

"How much do we owe you?" asked Harry, who would have paid with his own money if he hadn't known that the Weasleys wouldn't hear of it. He started towards the taxi driver who, to his surprise, began to back away.

"N-nothing!" he stuttered. "Nothing. I don't want anything. Just get away from my car! Please!"

"Er – right," said Harry, taking a step backwards. "Where are we, exactly?"

"About five miles away from where you want to be," said the driver. "It's that way." He pointed down the road to the left. He disappeared into the back of the car for a minute before emerging clutching all the bags that were there, and clutching his thumb where Hedwig had bitten him. He was eyeing the white owl cautiously.

"There you go," he said. "Bye now. Have a nice day." And with that, he was back in his seat and driving away before anyone had a chance to say anything.

"Well," said Mr Weasley when the air had cleared. "Wasn't that fun." His eyes were gleaming.

"Cool," said Ron, with a marked lack of enthusiasm. "What're we gonna do now?"

"Well, you three can go and meet – your – your friend," said Mrs Weasley, managing to not look too disapproving. "And we'll just summon another taxi."

"Um," said Harry, doubtfully.

"Yes, dear?"

"Well, it's just… I wouldn't use a summoning spell, if I were you," he said. "I'm not sure how the driver would react. I think it's best if you used a telephone – there's one over there…"

No sooner had he pointed out the red box than Mr Weasley was making his way towards it, rubbing his hands together and all but salivating.

"Yes, yes," he was saying. "Wonderful idea, Harry, wonderful… look at the craftsmanship! Look! How beautiful…"

Harry exchanged a look with Fred, and grinned.

"Do you think he knows which bit he's got to talk into?" asked George. His mother frowned at him, and he smiled back.

"Only joking," he said mildly. "Bye then Harry – see you later Ron, Hermione."

He and Fred began to walk up the road.

"Where do you think you're going?" demanded their mother. George and Fred stopped, surprised.

"Well, we thought it might be quicker to walk than wait for dad to call a taxi…" said Fred. "He hasn't even opened the door yet." Mr Weasley was stroking the red door frame lovingly. Ron hung his head.

"Oh, I'll call for you, Mrs Weasley," said Hermione, running over towards him. Ron shook his head at Harry. Mrs Weasley suddenly became all mother-like.

"Now, Harry," she said, casting an appraising eye up and down him like she wanted to feed him up a bit, "You will be careful, won't you? If it wasn't for the fact that Dumbledore sent me an owl saying that you'd be safe – "

"Dumbledore? Sent you an owl?" said Harry. "I never knew. He never sent me one."

" – Then I wouldn't be so happy at letting you go. Now, you must leave all your things with us – that's it, we'll take Hedwig home with us, won't we, Hedwig?" Harry's owl seemed to have taken a liking to Ginny, and was trying to eat her hair. Ginny looked up at Harry, and blushed. Ron laughed.

"And you'll be all right for food, will you?" Ron's mother continued. "Your – your godfather, I suppose he does eat… um… cooked food, does he?"

"Mum!" gasped Ron, blushing as red as Ginny had. "Of course he does! He isn't a dog all the time."

"Hmm. Well," said Mrs Weasley. "I suppose not. But anyway – if you need anything, just owl us, won't you, dear? Oh, what is your father doing to the poor phonebox now?" she added, exasperated. Mr Weasley had taken his coat off, and was using it to wipe some mud from the bottom of the door. Hermione, inside, speaking on the telephone, was looking decidedly worried.

Finally though they dragged Mr Weasley away from the telephone, and Ron, Hermione and Harry stood ready to go. They waited until the remainder of the Weasley family had packed themselves into the new taxi, and Harry hoped that they'd have better luck with this one. They waved at the car until it was out of sight and then turned, grinning, to each other.

"Oh, Harry!" squealed Hermione, looking the happiest Harry could remember ever having seen her since the time she'd been given a new book at Christmas. "Isn't this exciting!"

Ron rolled his eyes, but Harry could tell he was looking forward to it just as much as Hermione was, if not more. Ron's house grew rather cramped at holiday times.

"C'mon, then," said Harry, setting off. "What are we waiting for?"