Intermingled with the pines were shorter, ragged-looking trees with lumpy trunks, wizened branches and fine twigs like gnarled fingers: Betula pubescens, downy birch.
" Kreacher wont, Kreacher won't, Kreacher wont! " croaked the house-elf, quite as louldly as Uncle Vernon, stamping his long, gnarled feet and pulling his ears.