Read Online Harry Potter 05 - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by authors_sort - Free Book Online Page A

She flicked her wand hopefully.
    One of Harry’s socks gave a feeble sort of wiggle and flopped back on top of the mess in the trunk.
    ‘Ah, well,’ said Tonks, slamming the trunk’s lid shut, ‘at least it’s all in. That could do with a bit of cleaning, too.’ She pointed her wand at Hedwig’s cage. ‘Scourgify.’ A few feathers and droppings vanished. ‘Well, that’s a bit better – I’ve never quite got the hang of these householdy sort of spells. Right – got everything? Cauldron? Broom? Wow! – A Firebolt ?’
    Her eyes widened as they fell on the broomstick in Harry’s right hand. It was his pride and joy, a gift from Sirius, an international-standard broomstick.
    ‘And I’m still riding a Comet Two Sixty,’ said Tonks enviously. ‘Ah well … wand still in your jeans? Both buttocks still on? OK, let’s go. Locomotor trunk. ’
    Harry’s trunk rose a few inches into the air. Holding her wand like a conductor’s baton, Tonks made the trunk hover across the room and out of the door ahead of them, Hedwig’s cage in her left hand. Harry followed her down the stairs carrying his broomstick.
    Back in the kitchen Moody had replaced his eye, which was spinning so fast after its cleaning it made Harry feel sick to look at it. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Sturgis Podmore were examining the microwave and Hestia Jones was laughing at a potato peeler she had come across while rummaging in the drawers. Lupin was sealing a letter addressed to the Dursleys.
    ‘Excellent,’ said Lupin, looking up as Tonks and Harry entered. ‘We’ve got about a minute, I think. We should probably get out into the garden so we’re ready. Harry, I’ve left a letter telling your aunt and uncle not to worry –’
    ‘They won’t,’ said Harry.
    ‘– that you’re safe –’
    ‘That’ll just depress them.’
    ‘– and you’ll see them next summer.’
    ‘Do I have to?’
    Lupin smiled but made no answer.
    ‘Come here, boy,’ said Moody gruffly, beckoning Harry towards him with his wand. ‘I need to Disillusion you.’
    ‘You need to what?’ said Harry nervously.
    ‘Disillusionment Charm,’ said Moody, raising his wand. ‘Lupin says you’ve got an Invisibility Cloak, but it won’t stay on while we’re flying; this’ll disguise you better. Here you go –’
    He rapped him hard on the top of the head and Harry felt a curious sensation as though Moody had just smashed an egg there; cold trickles seemed to be running down his body from the point the wand had struck.
    ‘Nice one, Mad-Eye,’ said Tonks appreciatively, staring at Harry’s midriff.
    Harry looked down at his body, or rather, what had been his body, for it didn’t look anything like his any more. It was not invisible; it had simply taken on the exact colour and texture of the kitchen unit behind him. He seemed to have become a human chameleon.
    ‘Come on,’ said Moody, unlocking the back door with his wand.
    They all stepped outside on to Uncle Vernon’s beautifully kept lawn.
    ‘Clear night,’ grunted Moody, his magical eye scanning the heavens. ‘Could’ve done with a bit more cloud cover. Right, you,’ he barked at Harry, ‘we’re going to be flying in close formation. Tonks’ll be right in front of you, keep close on her tail. Lupin’ll be covering you from below. I’m going to be behind you. The rest’ll be circling us. We don’t break ranks for anything, got me? If one of us is killed –’
    ‘Is that likely?’ Harry asked apprehensively, but Moody ignored him.
    ‘– the others keep flying, don’t stop, don’t break ranks. If they take out all of us and you survive, Harry, the rear guard are standing by to take over; keep flying east and they’ll join you.’
    ‘Stop being so cheerful, Mad-Eye, he’ll think we’re not taking this seriously,’ said Tonks, as she strapped Harry’s trunk and Hedwig’s cage into a harness hanging from her broom.
    ‘I’m just telling the boy the plan,’ growled Moody. ‘Our job’s