They all looked over at Mrs。 Weasley。 She was trying to talk to Madame Delacour while glancing repeatedly at the gate。
〃I think we'd better start without Arthur；〃 she called to the garden at large after a moment or two。 〃He must have been held up at a150a150 oh！〃
They all saw it at the same time： a streak of light that came flying across the yard and onto the table； where it resolved itself into a bright silver weasel； which stood on its hind legs and spoke with Mr。 Weasley's voice。
〃Minister of Magic ing with me。〃
The Patronus dissolved into thin air； leaving Fleur's family peering in astonishment at the place where it had vanished。
〃We shouldn't be here；〃 said Lupin at once。 〃Harry a150a150 I'm sorry a150a150 I'll explain some other timea150a150〃
He seized Tonks's wrist and pulled her away； they reached the fence； climbed over it； and vanished from sight。 Mrs。 Weasley looked bewildered。
〃The Minister a150a150 but whya150a150？ I don't understanda150a150〃
But there was no time to discuss the matter； a second later； Mr。 Weasley had appeared out of thin air at the gate； acpanied by Rufus Scrimgeour； instantly recognizable by his mane of grizzled hair。
The two newers marched across the yard toward the garden and the lantern…lit table； where everybody sat in silence； watching them draw closer。 As Scrimgeour came within range of the lantern light。 Harry saw that he looked much older than the last time that had met； scraggy and grim。
〃Sorry to intrude；〃 said Scrimgeour； as he limped to a halt before the table。 〃Especially as I can see that I am gate…crashing a party。〃
His eyes lingered for a moment on the giant Snitch cake。
〃Many happy returns。〃
〃Thanks；〃 said Harry。
〃I require a private word with you；〃 Scrimgeour went on。 〃Also with Mr。 Ronald Weasley and Miss Hermione Granger。〃
〃Us？〃 said Ron； sounding surprised。 〃Why us？〃
〃I shall tell you that when we are somewhere more private；〃 said Scrimgeour。 〃Is there such a place？' he demanded of Mr。 Weasley。
〃Yes； of course；〃 said Mr。 Weasley； who looked nervous。 〃The； er； sitting room； why don't you use that？〃
〃You can lead the way；〃 Scrimgeour said to Ron。 〃There will be no need for you to acpany us； Arthur。〃
Harry saw Mr。 Weasley exchange a worried look with Mrs。 Weasley as he； Ron； and Hermione stood up。 As they led the way back to the house in silence； Harry knew that the other two were thinking the same as he was； Scrimgeour must； somehow； had learned that the three of them were planning to drop out of Hogwarts。
Scrimgeour did not speak as they all passed through the messed kitchen and into the Burrow's sitting room。 Although the garden had been full of soft golden evening light；
it was already dark in here； Harry flicked his wand at the oil lamps as he entered and they illuminated the shabby but cozy room。 Scrimgeour sat himself in the sagging armchair that Mr。 Weasley normally occupied； leaving Harry； Ron； and Hermione to squeeze side by side onto the sofa。 Once they had done so； Scrimgeour spoke。
〃I have some questions for the three of you； and I think it will be best if we do it individually。 If you two〃 a150a150 he pointed at Harry and Hermione a150a150 〃can wait upstairs； I will start with Ronald。〃
〃We're not going anywhere；〃 said Harry； while Hermione nodded vigorously。 〃You can speak to us together； or not at all。〃
Scrimgeour gave Harry a cold； appraising look。 Harry had the impression that the Minister was wondering whether it was worthwhile opening hostilities this early。
〃Very well then； together；〃 he said； shrugging。 He cleared his throat。 〃I am here； as I'm sure you know； because of Albus Dumbledore's will。〃
Harry； Ron； and Hermione looked at one another。
〃A surprise； apparently！ You were not aware then that Dumbledore had left you anything？〃
〃A…all of us？〃 said Ron； 〃Me and Hermione too？〃
〃Yes； all of a150a150〃
But Harry interrupted。
〃Dumbledore died over a month ago。 Why has it taken this long to give us what he left us？〃
〃Isn't it obvious？〃 said Hermione； before Scrimgeour could answer。 〃They wanted to examine whatever he's left us。 You had no right to do that！〃 she said； and her voice trembled slightly。
〃I had every right；〃 said Scrimgeour dismissively。 〃The Decree for Justifiable Confiscation gives the Ministry the power the confiscate the contents of a willa150a150〃
〃That law was created to stop wizards passing on Dark artifacts；〃 said Hermione； 〃and the Ministry is supposed to have powerful evidence that the deceased's possessions are illegal before seizing them！ Are you telling me that you thought Dumbledore was trying to pass us something cursed？〃
〃Are you planning to follow a career in Magical Law； Miss Granger？〃 asked Scrimgeour。
〃No； I'm not；〃 retorted Hermione。 〃I'm hoping to do some good in the world！〃
Ron laughed。 Scrimgeour's eyes flickered toward him and away again as Harry spoke。
〃So why have you decided to let us have our things now？ Can't think of a pretext to keep them？〃
〃No； it'll be because thirty…one days are up；〃 said Hermione at once。 〃They can't keep the objects longer than that unless they can prove they're dangerous。 Right？〃
〃Would you say you were close to Dumbledore； Ronald？〃 asked Scrimgeour； ignoring Hermione。 Ron looked startled。
〃Me？ Not a150a150 not really。。。 It was always Harry who。。。〃
Ron looked around at Harry and Hermione； to see Hermione giving him a stop…talking…now！ sort of look； but the damage was done； Scrimgeour looked as though he had
heard exactly what he had expected； and wanted； to hear。 He swooped like a bird of prey upon Ron's answer。
〃If you were not very close to Dumbledore； how do you account for the fact that he remembered you in his will？ He made exceptionally few personal bequests。 The vast majority of his possessions a150a150 his private library； his magical instruments； and other personal effects a150a150 were left to Hogwarts。 Why do you think you were singled out？〃
〃I。。。dunno；〃 said Ron。 〃I。。。when I say we weren't close。。。I mean； I think he liked me。。。〃
〃You're being modest； Ron；〃 said Hermione。 〃Dumbledore was very fond of you。〃
This was stretching the truth to breaking point； as far as Harry knew； Ron and Dumbledore had never been alone together； and direct contact between them had been negligible。 However； Scrimgeour did not seem to be listening。 He put his hand inside his cloak and drew out a drawstring pouch much larger than the one Hagrid had given Harry。 From it； he removed a scroll of parchment which he unrolled and read aloud。
〃'The Last Will and Testament of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore'。。。 Yes； here we are。。。 'To Ronald Bilius Weasley； I leave my Deluminator； in the hope that he will remember me when he uses it。'〃
Scrimgeour took from the bag an object that Harry had seen before： It looked something like a silver cigarette lighter； but it had； he knew； the power to suck all light from a place； and restore it； with a simple click。 Scrimgeour leaned forward and passed the Deluminator to Ron； who took it and turned it over in the fingers looking stunned。
〃That is a valuable object；〃 said Scrimgeour； watching Ron。 〃It may even be unique。 Certainly it is of Dumbledore's own design。 Why would he have left you and item so