Harry took advantage of the temporary silence to eat more

breakfast. Hermione was peering into Fred and Georges boxes,

though every now and then she cast sideways looks at Harry. Ron,
who was now helping himself to Harrys toast, was still gazing
dreamily at the door.
Harry did not really listen. A warmth was spreading through
him that had nothing to do with the sunlight; a tight obstruction
in his chest seemed to be dissolving. He knew that Ron and
Hermione were more shocked than they were letting on, but the
mere fact that they were still there on either side of him, speaking
bracing words of comfort () was worth more than he could
ever tell them.
Dont worry about that, mother is bringing you up a tray;
she reckons you look underfed, said Ron, rolling his eyes.
So, whats been going on?
Nothing much, Ive just been stuck at my aunt and uncles,
havent I?
Kote sat in front of the fire and ate his meal mechanically,
as if he were simply finding a place inside himself to keep the food.
After the last bite he sat staring into nothing, not remembering
what he had eaten or what it tasted like.
Later that afternoon Kote sent Bast to catch up on his sleep.
Then he moved listlessly around the inn, doing small jobs left
over from the night before. There were no customers.
When evening finally came he lit the lamps and began to
page disinterestedly through a book
It was a happy childhood, growing up in the center of an endless
fair.
My father would read to me from the great monologues
during the long wagon rides between towns.
Reciting mostly from memory, his voice would
roll down the road for a quarter mile.
After a moment, the sound of someone climbing
a set of wooden stairs in hard-soled boots echoed
from the doorway. He stepped into the room,
muttering under his breath.
Over the next months, my parents did their best
to patch the hole left by Ben's absence, bringing in
the other troupers to fill my time productively and
keep me from moping.