verhadbefore,beauseitwashingtoaskthemtofightwhentheyareyoungandthinkthatwarbringsglory,butitisanotherwhentheyhavefeltthetruthofit.“thesearethemostrediblethreats.”

“andwhat’sthatgottodowithus?”geealledoutfromthebakofthegroup,hisvoietightandangry.harrytriednottoflinhatthetoneofhiswords—thiswasnotaneasysituation,andevershelossofhisearandtheabseneoffredtohidebehind,geehasn’tdonewellinrowdsofpeople.theanger,heremindedhimself,wasn’tdiretedathim.“theministryan’thandleit?”

“theministryis…ieforthispartiursituation.”harryknewhehadtohoosehiswordsarefully,unlesskingsleyameafterhimforrevealingseretinformation.“there’sstillsomeonernoforruption,andthisissensitiveinformation.wehavetohandleitindepely,likewedidbefore.”

therewereonlybnkstares.“andwhyshouldwe?”itwasgeeagain,sullen,angry,hurting.“howmuhmoredotheyexpetustogive?”heshookhishead,thenstoodupsofasthishairfelltothefloor.“no.i’msorry,harry,buti’mdone.”

andthenhewalkedout.

harrydidn’treallyknowwhattodowiththat,beauseoneoftheonstantsofhislifeisthatwhenitistimetofight,therehavealwaysbeenpeoplewillingtostandbesidehim,evenwhenhewasn’taskingthemto.andnowthathewasaskingthemto,hewasgettingnovolunteers,noostandbesidehim,onlyronandhermionestandingsilentlybehindhim,likeguards.

(anddrao,whowasarosstheroom,hiddeninthebak,butharrywastryingnottolookathimbeauseitwasmoredistratingthananythingelse.)