well," he said, trying to sound as though he found the whole thing a joke, "if...

well," he said, trying to sound as though he found the whole thing a joke, "if you want to -- er -- what is it?" {He checked Percy's letter.} "Oh yeah -- 'sever ties' with me, I swear I won't get violent."
"Give it back," said Ron, holding out his hand. He is --" Ron said jerkily, tearing Percy's letter in half, "the world's" -- he tore it into quarters -- "biggest" -- he tore it into eighths -- "git." He threw the pieces into the fire.