Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets

It looked as though it had once been a large stone pigpen, but extra rooms had been added here and there until it was several stories high and so crooked it looked as thought it were held up by magic.

Ron's school spellbooks were stacked untidily in a corner, next to a pile of comics that all seemed to feature The Advantures of Martin Miggs, the Mad Muggle. Ron's magic wand was lying on top of a fish tank full of fog spawn on the windowsill, next to his fat gray rat, Scabbers, who was snoozing in a patch of sun.

Harry stepped over a pack of Self-Shuffling playing cards on the floor and looked out of the tiny window. In the field far below he could see a gang of gnomes sneaking one by one back through the Weasleys' hedge. Then he turned to look at Ron, who was watching him almost nervously, as though waiting for his opinion.

"It's a bit small," said Ron quickly. "Not like that room you had with the Muggles. And I'm right underneath the ghoul in the attic; he's always banging on the pipes and groaning...."

But Harry, grinning widely, said, "This is the best house I've ever been in."

Ron's ears went pink.

Five minutes later they were marching up the hill, broomsticks over their shoulders.

Trying hard to bear all this in mind, Harry took a pinch of Floo powder and walked to the edge of the fire. He took a deep breath, scattered the powder into the flames, and stepped forward; the fire felt like a warm breeze; he opened his mouth and immediately swallowed a lot of hot ash.