Warning: Official policy states that no spoiler tags should exist on recap pages. Read at your own risk.
A Visit from the Eldest
Bill Weasley visits home, as part of a team to install The Burrow's new security wards — which he warns will be both powerful and dangerous, not to be trifled with. Hermione joins them, both to observe the process and to spar together — including demonstrating fledgling Legilimency. Harry pushes her into practising flying a broomstick, too, despite her misgivings, indicating that it's an important survival skill, like swimming.
Mr Weasley then informs Harry that prosecuting Pettigrew and exonerating Sirius has stalled; Pettigrew is supposedly in a secure location, but without contact and without his identity being officially confirmed — and there is a moratorium on all prison visits. Mr Weasley suspects someone with political influence doesn't want the matter pursued.
Remus Lupin comes to visit shortly before school starts again. Harry tells him about Sirius' predicament, and suggests enlisting Rita Skeeter to put pressure on the Ministry; both Remus and the Weasleys are concerned about her, but agree that it may be worth trying.
- Corrupt Bureaucrat: Mr Weasley suspects that someone is pulling strings at the Ministry to obstruct justice and keep Sirius locked up.
- Deadly Prank: Defied by Bill, who warns his siblings to take the new wards very seriously.Bill: I've looked over the general plans for this set-up and I want you all to understand something. These are not for playing with. Don’t try to bring any of your friends here unannounced for a joke. This is deadly serious stuff. I'm not sure what Goldfarb told Carpenter when he asked him to draw these plans up, but…
Harry: I do. He wanted any survivors of an attack on The Burrow to have nightmares about it for the rest of their lives.
