Healed & Broken (HP) {Book 4 of the Wild & Free Series}

10. The Tampered Memory

"Ron!" she said furiously. "Don't you ever let me see you throwing knives again!"

"I won't," said Ron, "let you see," he added under his breath, as he turned back to the sprout mountain.

"Fred, George, Liana, I'm sorry, dears, but Remus is arriving tonight, so Bill will have to squeeze in with you three."

"No problem," said George and grinned at me. Mrs. Weasley had finally allowed George and me to share one bed, since we were all too cramped up to find other sleeping spots, anyway.

"Then, as Charlie isn't coming home, that just leaves Harry and Ron in the attic, and if Fleur shares with Lucy and Ginny —"

"— that'll make Ginny's Christmas —" muttered Fred.

"— everyone should be comfortable. Well, they'll have a bed, anyway," said Mrs. Weasley, sounding slightly harassed.

"Percy definitely not showing his ugly face, then?" asked Fred.

Mrs. Weasley turned away before she answered.

"No, he's busy, I expect, at the Ministry."

"Or he's the world's biggest prat," said Fred, as Mrs. Weasley left the kitchen. "One of the two. Well, let's get going, then, George."

"What are you two up to?" I asked.

"Can't you help us with these sprouts? You could just use your wand and then we'll be free
too!" Ron said.

"No, I don't think we can do that," said Fred seriously. "It's very character-building stuff, learning to peel sprouts without magic, makes you appreciate how difficult it is for Muggles and Squibs —"

"— and if you want people to help you, Ron," added George, throwing the paper airplane at him, "I wouldn't chuck knives at them. Just a little hint. We're off to the village, there's a very pretty girl working in the paper shop who thinks my card tricks are something marvelous... almost like real magic... Just kidding, Liana..."

I had thrown him a scornful look at which he almost winced. I hit his arm and he gave me a quick peck on the cheek, leaving the room with Fred.

"Gits," said Ron darkly, watching Fred and George setting off across the snowy yard.
"Would've only taken them ten seconds and then we could've gone too."

"Liana and I couldn't," said Harry. "We promised Dumbledore we wouldn't wander off while we're staying here."

"Oh yeah," said Ron. He peeled a few more sprouts and then said, "Are you going to tell Dumbledore what you heard Snape and Malfoy saying to each other, Harry?"

"Yep," said Harry. "I'm going to tell anyone who can put a stop to it, and Dumbledore's top of the list. I might have another word with your dad too."

"Pity you didn't hear what Malfoy's actually doing, though."

"I couldn't have done, could I? That was the whole point, he was refusing to tell Snape."

There was silence for a moment or two, then Ron said, " 'Course, you know what they'll all say? Dad and Dumbledore and all of them? They'll say Snape isn't really trying to help Malfoy, he was just trying to find out what Malfoy's up to."