CHAPTER SIX
and their sister, half laughing, half crying, running to keep up with
the train until it gathered too much speed, then she fell back and
waved.
Harry watched the girl and her mother disappear as the train
rounded the corner. Houses flashed past the window. Harry felt a
great leap of excitement. He didn’t know what he was going to —
but it had to be better than what he was leaving behind.
The door of the compartment slid open and the youngest red-
headed boy came in.
“Anyone sitting there?” he asked, pointing at the seat opposite
Harry. “Everywhere else is full.”
Harry shook his head and the boy sat down. He glanced at
Harry and then looked quickly out of the window, pretending he
hadn’t looked. Harry saw he still had a black mark on his nose.
“Hey, Ron.”
The twins were back.
“Listen, we’re going down the middle of the train — Lee Jor-
dan’s got a giant tarantula down there.”
“Right,” mumbled Ron.
“Harry,” said the other twin, “did we introduce ourselves? Fred
and George Weasley. And this is Ron, our brother. See you later,
then.”
“Bye,” said Harry and Ron. The twins slid the compartment
door shut behind them.
“Are you really Harry Potter?” Ron blurted out.
Harry nodded.
“Oh — well, I thought it might be one of Fred and George’s
jokes,” said Ron. “And have you really got — you know . . .”
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