"Yes, that's right," Ginny said.
"But the last time I looked for him, there was no doubt that he was only one boy, not five.
What are those? "
She pointed to a large pile of pink and purple fluffy balls, which were rolling around at the bottom of a cage, making ear-piercing screeches.
"Pygmy cattails," George said. "Miniature cattails. We can't make them reproduce quickly. So what's the matter with Michael Kona? "
"I dumped him. He's a shameful loser."
Ginny stuck a finger into the cage and watched the pygmy cattails gather around her. "They're so cute!"
"Yes, they are," Fred admitted reluctantly.
Fred reluctantly admitted, "But aren't you changing boyfriends a little too frequently?"
Ginny turned and stared at him, her hands on her hips.
Her angry expression was so much like Mrs. Weasley's that Harry was surprised that Fred didn't flinch.
"My business is none of your business.
Also, "
At that moment, Ron suddenly appeared beside George with a pile of merchandise in his arms. She shouted at Ron angrily, "Please don't spread rumors about me in front of those two!"
“？”
Ron looked blank and bewildered, looking at his sister in bewilderment.
George and Fred, however, knew to come to the rescue.
"Three Garen's, nine Sykes, and one Nat."
Fred looked carefully at the boxes in Ron's arms and said, "Pay up."
"I'm your brother!"
"You're taking our stuff. Three Garen's, nine Sykes, and that Nat is yours. "
"But I don't have three Garen's, nine Sykes!"
"Then you'd better put them back, and remember not to put them on the wrong shelf."
Ron threw away a few boxes, his mouth cursing as he made a rude gesture towards Fred. Unfortunately, Mrs. Weasley happened to appear at this time and saw it.
"If I see you do that again, I'll cast a curse and stick your fingers together."
"Mother, can I buy a pygmy cattail?" Ginny immediately asked.
"A what?" Mrs. Weasley said warily.
"Look, how cute they are …"
Mrs. Weasley went to look at the gnome-pudding, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione could see clearly through the window. Draco Malfoy was hurrying along the street.
He turned his head as he walked past Weasley's Magic Torch Theatre.
In a few seconds, he walked past the window. They lost sight of him.
"I wonder where his mother went."
"Looks like he got rid of his mother."
"But why?"
Harry said nothing.
He was thinking nervously that Narcissa Malfoy herself would not want her precious son out of her sight.
It must have taken Malfoy a great deal of effort to get out of her grasp.
Harry knew and hated Malfoy well enough to know that nothing good could come of this.
He turned to see Mrs. Weasley and Ginny bending over the pygmy cattails.
Mr. Weasley toyed with a deck of Muggle cards.
Fred and George were busy serving customers.
Hagrid stood with his back to them outside the window, watching the street.
"Quick, get in here quickly."
Said Harry, pulling his Invisibility Cloak from his bag.
"Oh--is that all right, Harry?"
Asked Hermione, glancing hesitantly in Mrs. Weasley's direction.
"Quick!" said Ron.
She hesitated for a second, then ducked under the cloak with Harry and Ron.
No one noticed their disappearance; everyone was absorbed in Fred and George's merchandise.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione crowded out of the shop as quickly as they could, but by the time they reached the street Malfoy had succeeded in disappearing as well as they had.
"He's gone that way," said Harry.
He tried to keep his voice low so that Hagrid, who was humming to himself, would not hear.
"Come on."
They hurried on, watching the windows and doors on both sides of the street. At last Hermione suddenly pointed ahead.
"There he is, isn't he?"
She whispered. "Turned left?"
"How surprising."
Malfoy glanced left and right, then disappeared into Tumbledown Lane.
"Quick, don't lose sight of him," said Harry, quickening his pace.
"Our feet will be seen!"
Said Hermione worriedly, for the hem of the cloak fluttered around their ankles. It was now more difficult for the three of them to hide under it than it had been before.
"It's all right," said Harry impatiently. "Come on!"
But Tumbledown Lane, the little street so closely associated with the Black Arts, was deserted.
They peered in the windows as they went, but there seemed to be no customers in any of the shops.
Harry guessed that buying, or being seen buying, Black Arts at this dangerous and suspicious time was a giveaway.
Hermione gave his arm a sharp pinch.
"Ouch!"
"Shh! Look! He's in there! "
She whispered in Harry's ear.
The shop beside them was the only one Harry had ever visited in Tumbledown Lane: Birkin and Burke's Black Arts, which sold all manner of sinister and ominous objects.
Sure enough, amid the boxes full of skulls and old bottles, Malfoy stood with his back to them, behind the big black cupboard.
Harry had once hidden in that cupboard to avoid Malfoy and his father.
Malfoy's gestures suggested that he was talking animatedly.
The owner, Mr Birkin, a greasy-haired, stooped man, stood in front of Malfoy.
He had a queer expression on his face, a mixture of resentment and fear.
"If only we could hear what they're saying!"
"Yes!"
Said Ron excitedly. "Hang on — damn —"
He groped for the largest box, and dropped the two that he still held in his hands.
"Telescopic ears, look!"
"Marvellous!"
Ron untied the flesh-coloured strings and began to stretch them under the door. "I hope the door isn't enchanted —"
"It isn't!"
Said Ron joyfully. "Listen!"
They put their heads together and listened intently to the ends of the strings. Malfoy's voice came out clearly, as if a radio had been turned on.
"Do you know how to fix it?"
"Possibly," said Mr Birkin.
He did not seem willing, from his tone, to take a definite position.
"But I need to have a look at it first. Why don't you take it into the shop?"
"I can't," said Malfoy. "It must be left where it is. You only have to tell me how to fix it. "
Harry saw Mr Birkin lick his lips nervously.
"I'm afraid it's hard to say without seeing it with my own eyes. There may be no way at all. I can't promise anything."
"Can't?"
Said Malfoy, and Harry could tell by his tone that he was being sarcastic. "Perhaps it will give you more confidence."
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