On a more serious note - The tabloids were taking secret pictures of J. K. Rowling's young daughter in a swimsuit and sneaking notes into her lunches. That's just creepy.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

I came up out of the chair and put my shoulder into her solar plexus. With my shoulder and hand I guided her and with my legs I lifted until she hit the wall and I felt bone break. I stepped back and let her fall to the floor. As she fell I heard someone cry ''Expulso!'' and a great burning shock ran through me like a lightning charge. I fell, throwing a hand against the wall to stop myself, sliding down on to the fallen witch.

Galilea called ''Iterum Sectumsempra!'' and I saw a bright flash. A man screamed. ''Protego Maxima!'' called Galilea, and then ''Totum Muggletum Somno!'' and I heard thuds. Strength returned to my legs and I stood, kicking the wand away from the gasping witch.

The kitchen doors burst open and a big wizard with a dark wand pushed through. He opened his mouth to yell and I stepped through Snake Creeps Down, coming up inside the reach of his wand arm. I took control of his arm and pushed his body against the divider wall, trapping him there.

''PerspicacemStupefy!'' and a flash of red hit the wizard and a wave of exhaustion passed through me. His face went slack and he slumped in my grip. A sharp cracking noise rang out and I let him fall, turning myself to the sound of someone Apparating in. I saw Galilea turn to the noise, wand ready.

Ron Weasley with wand in hand. ''Aurors!'' He yelled. ''Aurors! We're getting you two out of here!'' He grabbed Galilea's outstreched wand-arm by the wrist and held his other arm to me. I heard the cracking sounds of more Apparations. ''Grab my arm! Let's go!''

I felt a sudden wrench, as though someone had a hook through my belt-buckle and were pulling me backwards. And we were gone.