“The pairs will be as follows: Mundungus will be traveling with me, by broom –“
“Why’m I with you?” grunted the Harry nearest the back door.
“Because you’re the one that needs watching,” growled Moody, and sure enough, his magical eye
did not waver from Mundungus as he continued, “Arthur and Fred –“
“I’m George,” said the twin at whom Moody was pointing. “Can’t you even tell us apart when
we’re Harry?”
“Sorry, George –“
“I’m only yanking your wand, I’m Fred really –“
“Enough messing around!” snarled Moody. “The other one – George or Fred or whoever you are –
you’re with Remus. Miss Delacour –“
“I’m taking Fleur on a thestral,” said Bill. “She’s not that fond of brooms.”
Fleur walked over to stand beside him, giving him a soppy, slavish look that Harry hoped with all
his heart would never appear on his face again.
“Miss Granger with Kingsley, again by thestral –“
Hermione looked reassured as she answered Kingsley’s smile; Harry knew that Hermione too
lacked confidence on a broomstick.
“Which leaves you and me, Ron!” said Tonks brightly, knocking over a mug tree as she waved at
him.
Ron did not look quite as pleased as Hermione.
“An’ you’re with me, Harry. That all righ’?” said Hagrid, looking a little anxious. “We’ll be on the
bike, brooms an’ thestrals can’t take me weight, see. Not a lot o’ room on the seat with me on it,
though, so you’ll be in the sidecar.”
“That’s great,” said Harry, not altogether truthfully.
“We think the Death Eaters will expect you to be on a broom,” said Moody, who seemed to guess
how Harry was feeling. “Snape’s had plenty of time to tell them everything about you he’s never
mentioned before, so if we do run into any Death Eaters, we’re betting they’ll choose one of the
Potters who looks at home on a broomstick. All right then,” he went on, tying up the sack with the
fake Potters’ clothes in it and leading
the way back to the door, “I make it three minutes until we’re supposed to leave. No point locking
the back door, it won’t keep the Death Eaters out when they come looking. Come on …”
Harry hurried to gather his rucksack, Firebolt, and Hedwig’s cage and followed the group to the
dark back garden.
On every side broomsticks were leaping into hands; Hermione had already been helped up onto a
great black thestral by Kingsley, Fleur onto the other by Bill. Hagrid was standing ready beside the
motorbike, goggles on.
“Is this it? Is this Sirius’s bike?”
“The very same,” said Hagrid, beaming down at Harry. “An’ the last time yeh was on it, Harry, I
could fit yeh in one hand!”
Harry could not help but feel a little humiliated as he got into the sidecar. It placed him several feet
below everybody else: Ron smirked at the sight of him sitting there like a child in a bumper car.
Harry stuffed his rucksack and broomstick down by his feet and rammed Hedwig’s cage between
his knees. He was extremely uncomfortable.
“Arthur’s done a bit o’ tinkerin’,” said Hagrid, quite oblivious to Harry’s discomfort. He settled
himself astride the motorcycle, which creaked slightly and sank inches into the ground. “It’s got a
few tricks up its sleeves now. Tha’ one was my idea.” He pointed a thick finger at a purple button
near the speedometer.
"Please be careful, Hagrid." said Mr. Weasley, who was standing beside them, holding his
broomstick. "I'm still not sure that was advisable and it's certainly only to be used in emergencies."
"All right, then." said Moody. "Everyone ready, please. I want us all to leave at exactly the
same time or the whole point of the diversion's lost."
Everybody motioned their heads.
