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Mrs. Weasley moved aside to look at the Pygmy Puffs, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione momentarily had an unimpeded view out of the window. Draco Malfoy was hurrying up the street alone. As he passed Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, he glanced over his shoulder.
Seconds later, he moved beyond the scope of the window and they lost sight of him.
"Wonder where his mummy is." said Harry, frowning.
"Given her the slip by the looks of it," said Ron.
"Why, though." said Hermione.
Harry said nothing; he was thinking too hard. Narcissa Malfoy would not have let her precious son out of her sight willingly; Malfoy must have made a real effort to free himself from her clutches.
Harry, knowing and loathing Malfoy, was sure the reason could not be innocent.
He glanced around. Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were bending over the Pygmy Puffs. Mr.
Weasley was delightedly examining a pack of Muggle marked playing cards. Fred and George were both helping customers. On the other side of the glass, Hagrid was standing with his back to them, looking up and down the street.
"Get under here, quick," said Harry, pulling his Invisibility Cloak out of his bag.
"Oh — I don't know, Harry," said Hermione, looking uncertainly toward Mrs. Weasley.
"Come on!" said Ron.
She hesitated for a second longer, then ducked under the cloak with Harry and Ron.
Nobody noticed them vanish; they were all too interested in Fred and George's products.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione squeezed their way out of the door as quickly as they could, but by the time they gained the street, Malfoy had disappeared just as successfully as they had.
"He was going in that direction," murmured Harry as quietly as possible, so that the humming Hagrid would not hear them. “Cmon." They scurried along, peering left and right, through shop windows and doors, until Hermione pointed ahead.
"That's him, isn't it." she whispered. "Turning left." "Big surprise," whispered Ron.
For Malfoy had glanced around, then slid into Knockturn Alley and out of sight.
"Quick, or we'll lose him," said Harry, speeding up.
"Our feet'll be seen!" said Hermionc anxiously, as the cloak flapped a little around their ankles; it was much more difficult hiding all three of them under the cloak nowadays.
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