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d crusts and mouldy old bits of cheese。 In a far corner glinted small objects and coins that Harry guessed Kreacher had saved； magpie…like； from Sirius's purge of the house； and he had also managed to retrieve the silver…framed family photographs that Sirius had thrown away over the summer。 Their glass might be shattered； but still the little black…and…white people inside them peered up at him haughtily； including … he felt a little jolt in his stomach … the dark； heavy…lidded woman whose trial he had witnessed in Dumbledore's Pensieve： Bellatrix Lestrange。 By the looks of it； hers was Kreacher's favourite photograph； he had placed it to the fore of all the others and had mended the glass clumsily with Spellotape。
'I think I'll just leave his present here；' said Hermione； laying the package neatly in the middle of the depression in the rags and blankets and closing the door quietly。 'He'll find it later； that'll be fine。'
'e to think of it；' said Sirius； emerging from the pantry carrying a large turkey as they closed the cupboard door； 'has anyone actually seen Kreacher lately？'
'I haven't seen him since the night we came back here；' said Harry。 'You were ordering him out of the kitchen。'
'Yeah：' said Sirius； frowning。 'You know； I think that's the last time I saw him； too： he must be hiding upstairs somewhere。'
'He couldn't have left； could he？' said Harry。 'I mean； when you said 〃out〃； maybe he thought you meant get out of the house？'
'No； no； house…elves can't leave unless they're given clothes。 They're tied to their family's house；' said Sirius。
They can leave the house if they really want to；' Harry contradicted him。 'Dobby did； he left the Malfoys' to give me warnings two years ago。 He had to punish himself afterwards； but he still managed it。'
Sirius looked slightly disconcerted for a moment； then said； I'll look for him later； I expect I'll find him upstairs crying his eyes out over my mother's old bloomers or something。 Of course； he might have crawled into the airing cupboard and died： but I mustn't get my hopes up。'
Fred； George and Ron laughed； Hermione； however； looked reproachful。 j
Once they had eaten their Christmas lunch； the Weasleys； Harry and Hermione were planning to pay Mr Weasley another visit； escorted by Mad…Eye and Lupin。 Mundungus turned up in time for Christmas pudding and trifle； having managed to 'borrow' a car for the occasion； as the Underground did not run on Christmas Day。 The car； which Harry doubted very much had been taken with the consent of its owner； had been enlarged with a spell like the Weasleys' old Ford Anglia had once been。 Although normally proportioned outside； ten people with Mundungus driving were able to fit into it quite fortably。 Mrs Weasley hesitated before getting inside … Harry knew her disapproval of Mundungus was battling with her dislike of travelling without magic … but； finally； the cold outside and her children's pleading triumphed； and she settled herself into the back seat between Fred and Bill with good grace。
The journey to St Mungo's was quite quick as there was very little traffic on the roads。 A small trickle of witches and wizards was creeping furtively up the otherwise deserted street to visit the hospital。 Harry and the others got out of the car； and Mundungus drove off around the corner to wait for them。 They strolled casually towards the window where the dummy in green nylon stood； then； one by one； stepped through the glass。
The reception area looked pleasantly festive： the crystal orbs that illuminated St Mungo's had been coloured red and gold to bee gigantic； glowing Christmas baubles； holly hung around every doorway； and shining white Christmas trees covered in magical snow and icicles glittered in every corner； each one topped with a gleaming gold star。 It was less crowded than the last time they had been there； although halfway across the room Harry found himself shunted aside by a witch with a satsuma jammed up her left nostril。
'Family argument； eh？' smirked the blonde witch behind the desk。 'You're the third I've seen today： Spell Damage； fourth floor。'
They found Mr Weasley propped up in bed with the remains of his turkey dinner on a tray on his lap and a rather sheepish expression on his face。
'Everything all right； Arthur？' asked Mrs Weasley； after they had all greeted Mr Weasley and handed over their presents。
'Fine； fine；' said Mr Weasley； a little too heartily。 'You … er … haven't seen Healer Smethwyck； have you？'
'No；' said Mrs Weasley suspiciously； 'why？'
'Nothing； nothing；' said Mr Weasley airily； starting to unwrap his pile of gifts。 'Well； everyone had a good day？ What did you all get for Christmas？ Oh； Harry … this is absolutely wonderful！' For he had just opened Harry's gift of fuse…wire and screwdrivers。
Mrs Weasley did not seem entirely satisfied with Mr Weasley's answer。 As her husband leaned over to shake Harry's hand； she peered at the bandaging under his nightshirt。
'Arthur；' she said； with a snap in her voice like a mousetrap； 'you've had your bandages changed。 Why have you had your bandages changed a day early； Arthur？ They told me they wouldn't need doing until tomorrow。'
'What？' said Mr Weasley； looking rather frightened and pulling the bed covers higher up his chest。 'No； no … it's nothing … it's …l…
He seemed to deflate under Mrs Weasley's piercing gaze。
'Well … now don't get upset； Molly； but Augustus Pye had an idea： he's the Trainee Healer； you know； lovely young chap and very interested in： um： plementary medicine： I mean； some of these old Muggle remedies： well； they're called stitches； Molly； and they work very well on … on Muggle wounds …'
Mrs Weasley let out an ominous noise somewhere between a shriek and a snarl。 Lupin strolled away from the bed and over to the werewolf； who had no visitors and was looking rather wistfully at the crowd around Mr Weasley； Bill muttered something about getting himself a cup of tea and Fred and George leapt up to acpany him； grinning。
'Do you mean to tell me；' said Mrs Weasley； her voice growing louder with every word and apparently unaware that her fellow visitors were scurrying for cover； 'that you have been messing about with Muggle remedies？'
'Not messing about； Molly； dear；' said Mr Weasley imploringly； 'it was just … just something Pye and I thought we'd try … only； most unfortunately … well； with these particular kinds of wounds … it doesn't seem to work as well as we'd hoped …'
'Meaning？'
'Well： well； I don't know whether you know what … what stitches are？'
'It sounds as though you've been trying to sew your skin back together；' said Mrs Weasley with a snort of mirthless laughter； 'but even you； Arthur； wouldn't be that stupid …'
'I fancy a cup of tea； too；' said Harry； jumping to his feet。
Hermione； Ron and Ginny almost sprinted to the door with him。 As it swung closed behind them； they heard Mrs Weasley shriek； 'WHAT DO YOU MEAN； THAT'S THE GENERAL IDEA？'
Typical Dad；' said Ginny； shaking her head as they set off up the corridor。 'Stitches： I ask you：'