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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling

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J.K. Rowling

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE

wolf to stop Bill loving me!”

“Well, yes, I’m sure,” said Mrs. Weasley, “but I thought perhaps — given

how — how he —”

“You thought I would not weesh to marry him? Or per’aps, you hoped?”

said Fleur, her nostrils flaring. “What do I care how he looks? I am goodlooking

enough for both of us, I theenk! All these scars show is zat my

husband is brave! And I shall do zat!” she added fiercely, pushing Mrs.

Weasley aside and snatching the ointment from her.

Mrs. Weasley fell back against her husband and watched Fleur mopping

up Bill’s wounds with a most curious expression upon her face. Nobody

said anything; Harry did not dare move. Like everybody else, he was waiting

for the explosion.

“Our Great-Auntie Muriel,” said Mrs. Weasley after a long pause, “has a

very beautiful tiara — goblin-made — which I am sure I could persuade her

to lend you for the wedding. She is very fond of Bill, you know, and it would

look lovely with your hair.”

“Thank you,” said Fleur stiffly. “I am sure zat will be lovely.”

And then, Harry did not quite see how it happened, both women were

crying and hugging each other. Completely bewildered, wondering whether

the world had gone mad, he turned around: Ron looked as stunned as he felt

and Ginny and Hermione were exchanging startled looks.

“You see!” said a strained voice. Tonks was glaring at Lupin. “She still

wants to marry him, even though he’s been bitten! She doesn’t care!”

“It’s different,” said Lupin, barely moving his lips and looking suddenly

tense. “Bill will not be a full werewolf. The cases are completely —”

“But I don’t care either, I don’t care!” said Tonks, seizing the front of

Lupin’s robes and shaking them. “I’ve told you a million times “

And the meaning of Tonks’s Patronus and her mouse-colored hair, and

the reason she had come running to find Dumbledore when she had heard a

rumor someone had been attacked by Greyback, all suddenly became clear

to Harry; it had not been Sirius that Tonks had fallen in love with after all.

525

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