Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (90 page)

Aunt Petunia whimpered piteously. It could not have been plainer that she was thinking of what the neighbours would say if the't caught sight of these people marching up the garden path.

`Bye, then, Potter,' said Moody, grasping Harry's shoulder for a moment with a gnarled hand.

`Take care, Harry,' said Lupin quietly. `Keep in touch.'

`Harry, we'll have you away from there as soon as we can,' Mrs. Weasley whispered, hugging him again.

`We'll see you soon, mate,' said Ron anxiously, shaking Harry's hand.

`Really soon, Harry' said Hermione earnestly. `We promise.'

Harry nodded. He somehow could not find words to tell them what it meant to him, to see them all ranged there, on his side. Instead, he smiled, raised a hand in farewell, turned around and led the way out of the station towards the sunlit street, with Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and Dudley hurrying along in his wake.