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the way the stile swallowed his ticket）； and emerged on to a broad street lined with imposing…looking buildings and already full of traffic。
〃Where are we？〃 said Mr Weasley blankly； and for one heart…stopping moment Harry thought they had got off at the wrong station despite Mr Weasley's continual references to the map； but a second later he said； 〃Ah yes 。。。 this way； Harry；〃 and led him down a side road。
〃Sorry；〃 he said； 〃but I never e by train and it all looks rather different from a Muggle perspective。 As a matter of fact； I've never even used the visitors' entrance before。〃
The further they walked； the smaller and less imposing the buildings became； until finally they reached a street that contained several rather shabby…looking offices； a pub and an overflowing skip。 Harry had expected a rather more impressive location for the Ministry of Magic。
〃Here we are；〃 said Mr Weasley brightly； pointing at an old red telephone box； which was missing several panes of glass and stood before a heavily graffitied wall。 〃After you； Harry。〃
He opened the telephone…box door。
Harry stepped inside； wondering what on earth this was about。 Mr Weasley folded himself in beside Harry and closed the door。 It was a tight fit； Harry was jammed against the telephone apparatus； which was hanging crookedly from the wall as though a vandal had tried to rip it off。 Mr Weasley reached past Harry for the receiver。
〃Mr Weasley； I think this might be out of order； too；〃 Harry said。
〃No； no； I'm sure it's fine；〃 said Mr Weasley； holding the receiver above his head and peering at the dial。 〃Let's see 。。。 six 。。。〃 he dialled the number； 〃two 。。。 four 。。。 and another four 。。。 and another two 。。。〃
As the dial whirred smoothly back into place； a cool female voice sounded inside the telephone box； not from the receiver in Mr Weasley's hand； but as loudly and plainly as though an invisible woman were standing right beside them。
〃Wele to the Ministry of Magic。 Please state your name and business。〃
〃Er 。。。〃 said Mr Weasley； clearly uncertain whether or not he should talk into the receiver。 He promised by holding the mouthpiece to his ear； 〃Arthur Weasley； Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office； here to escort Harry Potter； who has been asked to attend a disciplinary hearing 。。。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said the cool female voice。 〃Visitor； please take the badge and attach it to the front of your robes。〃
There was a click and a rattle； and Harry saw something slide out of the metal chute where returned coins usually appeared。 He picked it up： it was a square silver badge with Harry Potter； Disciplinary Hearing on it。 He pinned it to the front of his T…shirt as the female voice spoke again。
〃Visitor to the Ministry； you are required to submit to a search and present your wand for registration at the security desk； which is located at the far end of the Atrium。〃
The floor of the telephone box shuddered。 They were sinking slowly into the ground。 Harry watched apprehensively as the pavement seemed to rise up past the glass windows of the telephone box until darkness closed over their heads。 Then he could see nothing at all； he could hear only a dull grinding noise as the telephone box made its way down through the earth。 After about a minute； though it felt much longer to Harry； a chink of golden light illuminated his feet and； widening； rose up his body； until it hit him in the face and he had to blink to stop his eyes watering。
〃The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant day；〃 said the woman's voice。
The door of the telephone box sprang open and Mr Weasley stepped out of it； followed by Harry； whose mouth had fallen open。
They were standing at one end of a very long and splendid hall with a highly polished； dark wood floor。 The peacock blue ceiling was inlaid with gleaming golden symbols that kept moving and changing like some enormous heavenly noticeboard。 The walls on each side were panelled in shiny dark wood and had many gilded fireplaces set into them。 Every few seconds a witch or wizard would emerge from one of the left…hand fireplaces with a soft whoosh。 On the right…hand side； short queues were forming before each fireplace； waiting to depart。
Halfway down the hall was a fountain。 A group of golden statues； larger than life…size； stood in the middle of a circular pool。 Tallest of them all was a noble…looking wizard with his wand pointing straight up in the air。 Grouped around him were a beautiful witch； a centaur； a goblin and a house…elf。 The last three were all looking adoringly up at the witch and wizard。 Glittering jets of water were flying from the ends of their wands； the point of the centaur's arrow； the tip of the goblins hat and each of the house…elf's ears； so that the tinkling hiss of falling water was added to the pops and cracks of the Apparators and the clatter of footsteps as hundreds of witches and wizards； most of whom were wearing glum； early…morning looks； strode towards a set of golden gates at the far end of the hall。
〃This way；〃 said Mr Weasley。
They joined the throng； wending their way between the Ministry workers； some of whom were carrying tottering piles of parchment； others battered briefcases； still others were reading the Daily Prophet while they walked。 As they passed the fountain Harry saw silver Sickles and bronze Knuts glinting up at him from the bottom of the pool。 A small smudged sign beside it read：
ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE FOUNTAIN OF MAGICAL BRETHREN WILL BE GIVEN TO ST MUNGO'S HOSPITAL FOR MAGICAL MALADIES AND INJURIES。
If I'm not expelled from Hogwarts； I'll put in ten Galleons； Harry found himself thinking desperately。
〃Over here； Harry；〃 said Mr Weasley； and they stepped out of the stream of Ministry employees heading for the golden gates。 Seated at a desk to the left； beneath a sign saying Security； a badly…shaven wizard in peacock blue robes looked up as they approached and put down his Daily Prophet。
〃I'm escorting a visitor；〃 said Mr Weasley； gesturing towards Harry。
〃Step over here；〃 said the wizard in a bored voice。
Harry walked closer to him and the wizard held up a long golden rod； thin and flexible as a car aerial； and passed it up and down Harry's front and back。
〃Wand；〃 grunted the security wizard at Harry； putting down the golden instrument and holding out his hand。
Harry produced his wand。 The wizard dropped it on to a strange brass instrument； which looked something like a set of scales with only one dish。 It began to vibrate。 A narrow strip of parchment came speeding out of a slit in the base。 The wizard tore this off and read the writing on it。
〃Eleven inches； phoenix…feather core； been in use four years。 That correct？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Harry nervously。
〃I keep this；〃 said the wizard； impaling the slip of parchment on a small brass spike。 〃You get this back；〃 he added； thrusting the wand at Harry。
〃Thank you。〃
〃Hang on 。。。〃 said the wizard slowly。
His eyes had darted from the silver visitors badge on Harry's chest to his forehead。
〃Thank you； Eric；〃 said Mr Weasley firmly； and grasping Harry by the shoulder he steered him away from the de