Fred snatched the letter back, quickly stuffed it into the envelope, as though the parchment itself were covered in Bubotuber Pus.
"All right, you've read it. Forget it."
He said gruffly, "Don't take a single word of Percy's bullshit to heart. His head probably has room for nothing but Ministry of Magic seals now."
George leaned back in his chair, gazing at the slowly rotating crystal bubbles on the lounge ceiling. His voice was unexpectedly calm.
"I've always thought our inventions were brilliant, and our friends were too."
"Honestly, the only regret I've had in my life—so far—"
He paused, forcing out a mocking smile. "Is the misfortune of becoming brothers with Supervisor Percy Ignatius Weasley."
"This letter," Fred said coldly, "has only one value: letting us all see what a person turns into when his head is stuffed full of power."
Ginny said softly, "It's like someone sucked out his real soul and stuffed him full of waste paper that can write official documents and shiny badges."
Harry felt weighed down.
He thought of Dudley's fists, of the Dursley family's rejection of him... it was hateful, but at least it had been naked loathing.
They had never liked him, and he knew that. There was nothing to be sad about.
But Percy... Percy was different.
The Weasley Family was so warm and lively, while his severing himself from them was so cold, for such an absurd reason. It was more chilling than simple abuse or hatred.
For a while afterward, no one felt like talking. The sandwiches tasted like wax, and even the tea had lost its fragrance.
They finished eating in silence. Guessing that Molly Weasley might have calmed down a little, they packed up the rubbish and quietly got to their feet to head downstairs.
The hospital